On Screen Manitoba

The largest actors’ union in Canada has slammed the funding cuts imposed by the government on CBC, which this week forced the pubcaster to slash jobs and programme spending.

The 10% cuts announced last month “don’t make economic sense,” according to the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA).

“If the government is intent on being fiscally responsible and creating jobs, it makes no sense that they would slash their investment in an industry that has proven to be so efficient at job creation,” said ACTRA national president Ferne Downey.

The union cited a study by accounting firm Deloitte & Touche that found for every C$1 (US$1) invested in the CBC more than C$3 was returned to the country’s economy.

Independently made dramas including CBC’s comic drama Being Erica, the family aimed horse opera Heartland and detective drama Republic of Doyle “create thousands of jobs across the country and are exported around the world,” ACTRA added.

On Wednesday the CBC said 650 jobs and 175 hours of original programming will go by 2015 to bring its operations in line with the new federal budget.