TV production studio taps funds

The New Brunswick government is investing almost $66,000 to help fund three television pilot programs and is promising to reintroduce incentives for the film industry.

Economic Development Minister Paul Robichaud announced the television funding for Cine Atlantik Studios in Tracadie-Sheila on Friday.

"Our investment in Cine Atlantik Studios shows our government has a major interest in the future of the film and television industry in northern New Brunswick and throughout our province," Robichaud said in a statement.

The funding was made through the Regional Development Corp., and it is intended to help the northeastern studio offer training opportunities during production of the three pilots.

The provincial government said two of the pilot programs are being produced by Hemmings House and Bruised Productions. The other program is being produced by Majestic Weinerdog Productions.

Greg Hemmings, the chief executive officer of E.O. Hemmings House, said the funding is a "turning point" for the province's film industry.

"It proves that despite our industry's recent challenges, the province has stepped up to support production and secure a bright future in domestic production," Hemmings said in a government press release.

The announcement is a policy reversal for the Progressive Conservative government, which cancelled the province's film tax credit in March.

The decision outraged New Brunswick film makers. Throughout the legislative session, the Liberals tabled several petitions protesting the decision to terminate the tax credit.

Hemmings said in March that he had incorporated a new company in Nova Scotia and was ready to move a portion of his business.

He said the government's decision would create an exodus of educated young people out of New Brunswick.

New credit promised

Robichaud, however, told CBC News Friday that the provincial government would table new legislation this fall to provide for a new tax credit for digital and film production.  

"It is following a platform commitment and also following the numerous discussions that we had with the film industry," Robichaud explained. "It was obvious that the tax credit that we had in place before was not what the industry was looking for, and we want to create a new one [that] will reflect more the industry of today and for the next years."

Liberal MLA Donald Arseneault, the opposition's finance critic, said the cancellation of the film tax credit has hurt the industry. "The industry has created tremendous benefits to our province and the [David] Alward government has killed its momentum," Arseneault said.