$500M Heritage Emergency Fund

May 08 2020

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Telefilm Canada welcome the measures announced today by Minister Steven Guilbeault, to direct emergency funding specifically to Canada’s screen-based industries. Following Prime Minister Trudeau’s previous announcement of $500M to establish a COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations, the Government of Canada will contribute $88.8M to the CMF and $27M to Telefilm to administer funds that mitigate the impact of the pandemic on Canada’s production sector. Details of how this new funding will be allocated and disbursed will be announced as soon as possible.

“Screen-based industries generate $12.8B to Canada’s GDP and provide 181,000 well-paid jobs,” says Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, Canada Media Fund. “The sector has been hugely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Between mid-March and June 30, the impact of shutdowns are an estimated production loss of $2.5B and 177,000 jobs.”

“The emergency funding announced by the federal government is part of a multifaceted funding ecosystem and will be allocated in a way which complements—not duplicates—other measures for which screen industry workers and companies are eligible.”

“These new funds will help companies in Canada’s film, television and interactive digital media sectors keep their doors open, and keep their employees on the payroll,” adds Christa Dickenson, Executive Director, Telefilm Canada. “Throughout this period of confinement and physical distancing, we have seen companies explore creative ways to continue developing, collaborating, distributing and promoting screen-based content.”

“As the administrator of the CMF’s programs and the Canada Feature Film Fund, Telefilm will continue to work effectively and efficiently to ensure that this additional support is disbursed quickly. Now more than ever, the CMF and Telefilm will work hand-in hand to deliver this much-needed relief to our clients and the creative teams and crews they employ.”

The CMF and Telefilm are also responding to the COVID-19 crisis by participating in an industry-wide taskforce assembled to assess the impact of the pandemic on the sector.