Province Extends Film Employment Tax Credit

The province is giving the film industry an extension, but not changing their mind about cancelling the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit.

Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sports Minister Bill Hutchison said the province has spent over 200 million dollars on the film industry and it isn't growing, “Despite the very best efforts of the industry, and they have been mighty efforts I'm sure, plus the best efforts of government. Film production has actually gone the other way its dropped 70% in the last five years. Employment in that time has dropped 55%.”

Hutchinson adds they can't afford to get involved in a bidding war with other provinces for film productions if they want to run a balanced budget, “That's what the old style film credit was turned into. It's a bidding war between provinces our decision was not to get into it.”

For now, the province is extending the application deadline for the final round of tax credits to the end of June.