Saskatchewan NDP promises new film tax credit in campaign-style announcement

REGINA – The NDP plans to call action on a new film employment tax credit if elected when Saskatchewan voters head to the polls April 4.

NDP Leader Cam Broten says the new deal for filmmakers would be a 45 per cent refundable credit for labour, plus 15 per cent for other costs including post-production done in Saskatchewan.

But the government says there’s a lack of costing on the announcement from the NDP.

The province faced much hue and cry when it cut a film employment tax credit in March 2012.

Premier Brad Wall said at the time that Saskatchewan was not going to participate in the bidding war between provinces with respect to grants for the film industry.

Broten says the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce pegged the cost of the former film tax credit at just over $1 million per year, but also estimated that the net economic benefit was $44.5 million.