PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
Montreal, March 13, 2024 - In reaction to the provincial budget tabled yesterday by Finance Minister Éric Girard, the artists' unions are delighted, despite the context of budgetary restraint, with the various initiatives and investments aimed at the audiovisual sector. We applaud the government's willingness to review the industry's funding models and mechanisms, and are pleased that our demands have been heard. We would like to thank the Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe, for his ongoing commitment to artists and artisans, and his genuine desire to promote local culture. We reiterate our full cooperation and will continue our representations to ensure the defense of our members' rights and interests.
"Quebec culture is the jewel of our collective identity. We need to ensure its continuity, which requires, among other things, a healthy distribution of public funds that trickle down to artists. We are delighted that funds have been earmarked for a review of the funding model, and eagerly await the announcement by the Minister of Culture and Communications. It is essential to guarantee fair working conditions that respect collective agreements and fair remuneration for all artists, particularly in the context of public funding," emphasizes Tania Kontoyanni, President of the UDA.
"The Quebec government has taken important steps to promote the development of audiovisual production. Not only will the recent budget improve financing for Quebec production, it will also ensure that our industry is better positioned on the world stage. We believe that these measures will contribute to improving the socio-economic conditions of our members, as well as fostering the creation of new jobs in our industry," concludes Christian Lemay, President of AQTIS 514 IATSE.
"We welcome the planned investments to support music companies and artists, especially in the digital age where international competition is fierce. However, we call for continued attention to the protection of musicians' rights and the promotion of a dynamic musical ecosystem in Quebec. The resulting policies must encourage musical creation and performance, and protect musicians' rights. We need to give ourselves the means to promote living music and French-language song, and to ensure the discoverability of our artists," explains GMMQ President Luc Fortin.
"Quebec's cultural vitality is shaped by our writers, real creators who bring our programs to life and write stories for our screens or radio. This budget recognizes the importance of Quebec's audiovisual industry, but it's also essential to maintain a focus on promoting the work of our artists in a constantly evolving digital environment," adds Chantale Cadieux, President of SARTEC.
"We welcome the initiatives in Budget 2024 aimed at strengthening our audiovisual industry, particularly with the support for Télé-Québec. We stress the importance of supporting the diversity of creative voices and adapting our funding models to ensure the sustainability of filmmaking in Quebec," says Gabriel Pelletier, President of ARRQ.
"Improving the various tax credits will have a positive impact on television and film production, and by the same token, on jobs for our members. It will breathe new life into the creation and production of home-grown content, making Quebec once again a preferred destination for foreign productions, and enabling us to shine on the international stage," explains Michèle Laliberté, interim president of the Directors' Guild.
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For further information
AQTIS 514 IATSE
Marie-Josée Rivard
514 844-2113 ext. 223
mjrivard@aqtis514iatse.com
Association des réalisateurs et des réalisatrices du Québec (ARRQ)
Géraldine Piguet
514 842-7373 ext. 226
geraldine@arrq.quebec
Quebec Musicians' Guild (GMMQ)
Floriane Barny
514 842-2866 ext. 229
communications@gmmq.com
Directors Guild of Canada - Quebec Council
Michelle d'Arvisais
514 844-4084 ext. 106
marvisais@dgc.ca
Society of Authors of Radio, Television and Cinema (SARTEC)
Isabelle Desmarais
514 602-0977
ldesmarais@sartec.qc.ca
Union des artistes (UDA)
Mélodie Roy
514 887-9356
mroy@uda.ca
