President’s Message

Hello ACTRA Members,

Labour Day celebrates the achievements of workers with its origins in the labour union movement. As union members, we can honour those who came before us by voting in the snap federal election taking place on Monday, September 20. This is our opportunity to have a say in Ottawa regarding our industry over the next four years.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the holes in our social safety net, making the already vulnerable even more so. It has highlighted the need to further protect Canadian workers. The outcome of the federal election could significantly impact the almost 250,000 arts and culture workers employed within our screen-based industry across the country. We need to take real steps to address inequality to create a more equitable economy.

To learn more about where each party stands on key issues affecting our industry and Canadian performers, ACTRA has created this special 2021 federal election website. There you’ll find industry-related questions to ask candidates, downloadable materials, voting information and more.

Ahead of next week’s Leaders’ Debate, we also have a simple online form to reach out to party leaders directly with election-related questions.

Elections Canada has put in place new health and safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you’re not comfortable voting in-person on election day, there are other options available to you – voting by mail, at any Elections Canada office, or at an advance poll.

I invite you to take some time this Labour Day to reflect on the Canadian workers who have fought hard for the rights and protections we enjoy today and how your vote will impact Canadian workers for generations to come.

In solidarity,
Eleanor Noble

Hello ACTRA Members,

ACTRA is excited about launching our first-ever national ACTRA Member Census within the next two weeks and is asking you to Play your Part.

You will receive an E-mail from Ipsos with the subject line: Please complete the first-ever national ACTRA Member Census.

The ACTRA Member Census is our union’s opportunity to capture a clear picture of the demographic composition of our membership, including age, gender, sexual orientation, race, work opportunities, membership category, ability and regional representation.

Ipsos is the third-party market research company working with ACTRA to collect this data so our industry can better understand where employment barriers exist and find ways to eliminate them. Therefore, ACTRA needs your participation in the Census for it to be a success.

Why is this important?

Our union needs to know who we are and what we face in the industry.

Awareness is key to creating change. Our union wants to create change, and this Census is one of the tools ACTRA will use to raise awareness about the issues affecting our membership.

Once Ipsos provides ACTRA with the results of the Census, ACTRA will use this information to have informed discussions about the issues affecting our membership. It will support us in influencing our collective bargaining objectives, public policy work, lobbying the government, and diversity and inclusion efforts, with the goal of delivering better services to all of us.

The Census is completely anonymous. Ipsos will ensure your data and privacy are protected.

ALL eligible ACTRA Members may complete the online Census.

Members who participate in the ACTRA Member Census will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win one of four $150 VISA gift cards.

So, Play Your Part.

In solidarity,
Eleanor Noble

Hello ACTRA Members,

It is an honour to be elected as your new National President.

I am feeling inspired. As we enter this time of change and a new era of awareness, we have the opportunity to insist on a fairer, more diverse and equitable screen industry for all Canadian performers. I look forward to continuing the work with those who sit at ACTRA’s leadership table. If you don’t know who we are, please take a moment to meet your National Council.

In addition to being the National President, I currently serve as ACTRA Montreal Vice President, chair of the ACTRA National Women’s Committee (ANWC), and the founding chair of ACTRA Montreal’s Casting Standards Committee (CSC).

Having spent 29 years making my living within our screen industry, like many of you, I’ve had great work opportunities and some not-so-great ones. It’s from my experiences and from hearing those of our ACTRA colleagues that fuel my drive to move fiercely forward on the most important and prevalent demands that have challenged our industry for decades. These include addressing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) issues and opportunities, as well as our right to harassment-free, safe, respectful, and consent-based work environments.

The two most effective ways to implement change are through lobbying the government and negotiating our collective agreements.

The remarkable thing about our industry is that it has the ability to provide stories that can shape and influence the world. When we don’t reflect our realities, we’re left with tropes and stereotypes that affect societal behaviour. Representation matters. Canadian performers need the opportunity to reflect the change we seek. Therefore, it is crucial respect and dignity are integrated into the stories of our diverse talent across this country. These are our stories, reflecting who we are as Canadians.

This is why it’s important we build a stronger Canadian production industry. To achieve this, we need a modernized Broadcasting Act (Bill C-10), one that prioritizes Canadian creators and ensures streaming services, like Netflix and Disney+, are contributing to the development of Canadian content. The more broadcasters that do so, the more jobs it generates for writers, directors and performers.

As your National President, I will connect with local ACTRA Branches across the country to learn about the issues specific to your region.

Together, we can bring even greater solidarity within our membership, our union, our country, and in turn, affect things globally.

I’m determined to bring about change. I look forward to taking this journey with you.

In solidarity,
Eleanor Noble

Dear ACTRA Members,

Your union has been busy on the lobbying front in recent months advocating on behalf of Canadian performers about some of the proposed changes outlined in new broadcasting legislation (Bill C-10) to modernize Canada’s Broadcasting Act.

Bill C-10, once passed and the changes implemented, will impact our industry – and work opportunities – for years if not decades to come. So, it’s important we get it right to ensure a strong and vibrant industry for Canadian content.

This past Monday, I was pleased to have the opportunity to appear alongside our National Executive Director Marie Kelly before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage as part of its study of Bill C-10. Marie and I took the opportunity to sound the alarm about a proposal in the Bill that could significantly reduce the requirement to use Canadian creative talent.

I know as working performers we are all happy to see production activity in Canada booming, especially following pandemic closures, but there is growing concern that opportunities to tell Canadian stories are decreasing and Canadian content production is lagging further behind.

If we do not create an environment in which Canadian stories and storytellers can thrive, our culture and identity may be lost.

The proposal in Bill C-10 that we are most concerned about removes the requirement for broadcasters to make maximum use, and in no case less than predominant use, of Canadian creative and other resources in the creation and presentation of Canadian programming.

This change would significantly reduce the requirement to use Canadian creative talent. For precarious workers like ACTRA members, it could lead to a dramatic loss of work opportunities.

It would also devastate our screen-based media production sector, an industry that contributes $12.8 billion to our country’s GDP and generates 180,000-plus jobs for hard-working Canadians.

This is why ACTRA is proposing we maintain the existing language in the Broadcasting Act requiring broadcasters to make maximum use of Canadian talent in the creation of Canadian programming. It is imperative Bill C-10 be amended to include this existing language as well as acknowledge that all broadcasters, including online streaming services, must contribute to the creation of Canadian content.

So, what’s next? This is where we need you to take action. We need to make sure Committee members understand what’s at risk. You can help ensure the voices of Canadian performers are heard by sending an E-mail to the Members of Parliament sitting on the Canadian Heritage Committee and asking them to support ACTRA’s amendments to Bill C-10.

Canadian storytelling is in danger if we do not ensure the Broadcasting Act includes the necessary amendments to help strengthen our system. Please take action now.

In solidarity,
David Sparrow
President
@davesparrow14

COVID-19… it’s been almost a year. 

Dear ACTRA Members,

The pandemic has been tough on us all and has magnified the inequalities that exist not just in Canada’s broadcast and production industry but in our communities at large.

When the pandemic first hit, many people, including many of our members, became financially unstable overnight. However, according to Statistics Canada’s January 2021 Labour Force Survey, it was women, low-wage, and racialized workers in precarious employment who were hit hardest.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and now the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) mitigated some of the hardships people faced, but they also shone a light on just how little it actually costs to lift people out of poverty and to give every kind of worker a fighting chance.

So, what’s next?

A modernized Employment Insurance (EI) system, made accessible to the most precarious in our society and our industry, is vital to maintaining vibrant and diverse communities and an arts and entertainment culture that values diversity and understands that our strength lies in the uniqueness of the stories we tell.

ACTRA was one of the first organizations to undertake a campaign to see that gig workers, including artists, would have access to vital financial safety nets. We must now continue that work to ensure all precarious workers have fair and equal access to government programs and services that traditional employees rely on to backstop their careers.

Even as the industry has been called on to address a legacy of abuse and harassment, coupled with systemic racism, discrimination and bullying, we must also address the needs of the most vulnerable artists in our communities. Together we must call on the Government of Canada to take bold steps to protect the valuable benefits our self-employed artists provide to Canadian and international audiences.

We need modernized Employment Insurance (EI) legislation that recognizes gig workers, many of whom are Canadian performers and artists, and allows them to contribute to and collect EI benefits without sacrificing their self-employed income tax status.

Let’s continue to support and celebrate the wide diversity and work of Canadian artists from every region. Together, we are stronger.

In solidarity,
David Sparrow
President
@davesparrow14

We stopped the CERB clawback!

February 9, 2021

Dear ACTRA Members,

Thank you to the thousands of members who stepped up to help stop the unjust CERB clawback by sharing a message of support on social media or by calling or E-mailing your Member of Parliament.

Your efforts have paid off! The Government of Canada has heard us loud and clear and, today, announced self-employed individuals who applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) based on their gross income will not be required to repay the benefit.

This means, individuals who had self-employment gross income of at least $5,000 will not be required to repay the CERB as long as they met all other eligibility criteria.

This was a joint effort and a true testament to how effective we can be when we work together. Even if you were not personally affected by the change to the CERB income eligibility rules, you likely know an artist who was.

The decision announced today shows how important it is for us to stand together in solidarity, in this case for the many self-employed workers who were affected by the unjust CERB clawback.

I know we all still face a lot of uncertainty as we continue to get through this pandemic, but the great news announced today will, I hope, help alleviate some of the financial uncertainty many Canadians would have had to face if the government did not reconsider its position.

Stay safe and stay strong. Together, we will get through these tough times and come out more united than ever.

In solidarity,
David Sparrow
President
@davesparrow14

A modernized Broadcasting Act is coming…

November 3, 2020

Dear ACTRA Members,

I want to thank all of you for helping your union make history today following the introduction of long-awaited legislation by the federal government to modernize Canada’s Broadcasting Act (Bill C-10). The two main goals of this Bill are to bring online streaming services into the broadcasting system and equip the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) with the necessary tools. ACTRA has focused much of our lobbying efforts over the years on changes to the Broadcasting Act so this is a big win for Canadian performers and our industry.

If the proposed legislative changes are passed, and the CRTC requires online broadcasters to contribute to Canadian content at a similar rate as traditional broadcasters, online broadcasters’ contributions to Canadian music and stories could amount to as much as $830 million per year by 2023.

While the legislation introduced today is only a first step, the proposed changes will help strengthen our industry and lead to increased investment in Canadian content production and, by extension, increased work opportunities for Canadian performers. Some of the changes include:

• The inclusion of online broadcasters, such as streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, will fall within the scope of the Act.
• More fair and equitable treatment between online and traditional broadcasters, which will allow governing bodies to require a certain level of Canadian programs be showcased on streaming platforms and/or require online broadcasters to make financial contributions to support Canadian music, stories, creators and producers.
• Update policy to better serve the needs and interests of all Canadians and Indigenous peoples, including individuals from racialized communities and of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, abilities and disabilities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions and ages.

The government has also stated there will be additional reforms made to modernize the Act, which may include:

• Assessing which online broadcasters should be regulated and ensuring they are required to contribute appropriately to the broadcasting system.
• Ensuring support for programs created and produced by racialized groups, official language minority communities, women, Indigenous peoples, and LGBTQ+ communities.
• Revisiting how “Canadian programs” are defined for the purposes of broadcasting regulatory obligations and ensuring this definition takes into account other relevant federal Canadian content policies, and recognizes the importance of Canadian intellectual property ownership.
• Considering additional regulatory credits for broadcasting activities that are culturally desirable, but otherwise less likely to be produced.

While there is still work to do to create a more modern and equitable broadcasting system in Canada, this is a positive first step. ACTRA will further analyze the bill in the coming weeks to assess its impact on our industry and will participate in any government consultation process about the proposed legislation. The federal government will need to work across party lines before this bill can become law. You can help ensure the voices of Canadian performers are heard by reaching out to your Member of Parliament and encouraging them to support this bill.

Thank you again for supporting your industry and your union.

In solidarity,
David Sparrow
President
@davesparrow14

October 2020

Hello ACTRA Members,

As the weather slips all too quickly toward winter, I hope you, your friends and families are well.

Work opportunities are returning all across this great country. Foreign service productions are choosing to shoot here because Canada is seen to be handling the pandemic more responsibly than many other jurisdictions, but they’re also here because they know ACTRA members are professionals who take this industry and their careers seriously. They know we can be relied upon to partner with them in observing on-set health and safety protocols that will protect productions as well as the casts and crews who bring those productions to life.

And now, domestic producers creating Canadian productions can also have the financial confidence necessary to get back in the game. Following months of industry-wide lobbying by ACTRA, IATSE, the DGC, the CMPA and so many others, we were pleased to see our federal government step up to support our industry by implementing temporary backstop production insurance to protect against COVID-19 shutdowns. Administered by Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund, this additional level of insurance will specifically support lower budget Canadian Content producers as they return to tell great Canadian stories.

Judging by reports from our members on social media, self-tape auditions and bookings are running at a fever pitch. Still, I know for some of us, underlying health conditions will slow our return to set or even make it impossible until the pandemic is finally over. Following the end of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit in September, the government introduced the Canada Recovery Benefit, which provides income support to workers who are directly affected by COVID-19 and are not entitled to Employment Insurance. We were able to ensure self-employed and gig-economy workers are eligible to apply for this benefit to help them through the pandemic recovery process.

As we all know, infection rates continue to rise across the country. We are in the second wave. For this reason, we all need to double down on our professionalism. Check out ACTRA’s new ACTSmart! page for tips on how you can think, work and live smart. It’s more important to our industry than ever before that Canada continues to be seen as a safe and responsible shooting location. A place where talent recognizes their health and behaviour on set is supported best by their health and behaviour at home. By working together, we can keep the cameras rolling and the work opportunities growing.

Let’s make the last two months of 2020 count for Canadian performers.

Keep being awesome.

In solidarity,
David Sparrow
President
@davesparrow14

Labour Day 2020

Dear ACTRA Members,

Labour Day marks an important time for us to be thankful for and proud of the strong and respected presence unions have in Canada. Each year, we reflect on the history of our labour movement and celebrate the labour activists who came before us. Through negotiation and protest, sacrifice and personal risk, they helped to achieve the many protections and benefits we, as workers, receive in Canada today. Given the challenges we have faced this year, I know we are all especially grateful to have a strong union of like-minded professional artists behind us as we navigate this tough business.

Although we will not be coming together in person at a Labour Day parade or an ACTRA Branch event this year, we can still celebrate and respect the work our union has done on behalf of members, even in these tough times.

The COVID-19 crisis has been unpredictable and fast-evolving. Through extensive lobbying, we were able to see artists and other self-employed, gig economy workers included in the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) launched by the federal government this past spring. This time of crisis has also shown us how adaptable, resilient and generous our members can be with their time and talent as performers have stepped up to help each other and to entertain our nation during the lockdown. We can truly have hope for our future as we continue to navigate these changing times.

Ending anti-Black racism and committing to lasting change as it impacts equality and inclusion within our industry is an important priority we are focused on. We will continue to work with organizations from across our sector, guided by our diverse member leaders, to see that opportunities for Black and Diverse members are increased and more accessible.

Our staff, working from home while caring for their own families, have continued to ensure commercial residual payments, and ACTRA Performers’ Rights Society and UBCP/ACTRA royalties are received by members across the country. Additionally, your union was able to convince the government that up to $1,000/month of such earnings should be exempt from CERB eligibility to help the many artists who struggle to pay their rent and put food on the table during this pandemic. The government has been listening and has now announced a further extension of the CERB along with plans for new recovery benefits launching in October, including paid sick leave, to help get us through the likely tough times ahead (please note these recovery benefits still require parliamentary approval and Parliament has been prorogued until September 23).

For months, your union has also been working with people from across the industry to help get us ready to return to work in the safest way possible. Precautions followed by each of us at home and on set will see work opportunities return and continue to grow. The world, and all the streaming services, are hungry for new, excellent content. If we all have patience with one another and put our health first, the return to work will no doubt be successful.

Work under the newly ratified Ubisoft Video Game Agreement has already begun with members returning to volumes and sound booths in both Montreal and Toronto. Our member negotiators did an excellent job speaking on behalf of their fellow performers in what was at times a difficult bargaining experience. Next year will see ACTRA return to the bargaining table to renegotiate our NCA and CBC Television and Radio Agreements. You can also expect focus groups to be re-established to address the post-COVID workplace and improved anti-Black racism, diversity and inclusion provisions in these agreements.

Each week brings new twists and turns to 2020, but the work of the labour movement has prepared your union to engage in and adapt to important issues and to respond to unpredictable events. So remember, in good times and bad, we have a collective commitment to step up for each other and to build a union that will continue to protect and defend future generations of artists in Canada.

Stay healthy! I wish everyone from coast to coast to coast a safe and happy Labour Day and better success in the months and year to come.

In solidarity,
David Sparrow
President
@davesparrow14