The filed record
Protecting Toronto’s Film Industry From Impacts of Uncertainty Caused by Tariff Threat - by Councillor Paula Fletcher, seconded by Mayor Olivia Chow
The Public Gallery wrote no story on this item. What follows is the city’s own record of what happened to it, as filed: nothing on this page is summarised or scored by us.
The decision
2025-05-21 · Toronto City Council · adopted
As filed
City Council on May 21 and 22, 2025, adopted the following: 1. City Council advocate to the Provincial and Federal governments for: a. enhancements to the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit, the Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit, and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit including mechanisms for faster payment; b. greater direct investment in domestic production through existing Federal and Provincial funds; c.
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access for the production and post-production industry to current or future Provincial and Federal funds supporting sectors harmed by tariffs, regardless of whether tariffs on productions are implemented, as the threat of tariffs causes uncertainty that can have a highly damaging impact; and d. a review of Employment Insurance requirements to ensure gig workers in these industries, sometimes ineligible for this benefit, are able to access it in order for the industry to retain workers.
On the agenda
As the city filed it
At the May 20 meeting of the Toronto Film, Television, and Digital Media Board, the Board voted to endorse the advocacy items listed above. The recent tariff threat on films produced outside the United States has created uncertainty that could have a cooling effect on upcoming production in jurisdictions all over the world, including Toronto. The film industry is highly valuable to Toronto, offering employment to 40,000 Torontonians, and contributing a direct spend as high as $2.6 billion (2022).
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The City of Toronto must safeguard the future of this vital industry and the creative and economic opportunities it offers. Reason for Urgency: Summer is the busiest period annually for film production. The situation regarding tariffs is evolving on a daily basis, and action needs to be taken immediately to protect the industry from the uncertainty this creates.
Staff recommended
Councillor Paula Fletcher, seconded by Mayor Olivia Chow, recommends that: 1. City Council advocate to the Provincial and Federal governments for: a. enhancements to the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit, the Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit, and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit including mechanisms for faster payment; b. greater direct investment in domestic production through existing Federal and Provincial funds; c.
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access for the production and post-production industry to current or future Provincial and Federal funds supporting sectors harmed by tariffs, regardless of whether tariffs on productions are implemented, as the threat of tariffs causes uncertainty that can have a highly damaging impact; and d. a review of Employment Insurance requirements to ensure gig workers in these industries, sometimes ineligible for this benefit, are able to access it in order for the industry to retain workers.
On the record
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