Television Production a Major Boost to Province�s Film Industry

I rise in this Honourable House today on behalf of my colleague, the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, to inform members of an exciting new development in the Newfoundland and Labrador film industry.

The Canadian Broadcast Corporation recently approved its upcoming television season lineup, and confirmed that a one-hour father-son police drama, entitled Republic of Doyle, will be among the new shows featured next year.

Republic of Doyle is one of the biggest budget television series ever produced in Canada � and the 12 episodes commissioned to date will be filmed right here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

This is an unprecedented opportunity for our film industry, and for film industry workers in this province. We recognized this when the producers approached us last year with a view to securing our financial support in making the television series a reality.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has committed $1.5 million in film equity funding to the project in Budget 2009 to ensure this province accrues the maximum benefits from this television production. The size of this production will also enable producers to avail of approximately $3 million through the Newfoundland and Labrador Film and Video Tax Credit.

Therefore, the direct commitment from the Provincial Government in Republic of Doyle is $4.5 million, with economic spin-off activities estimated to result in about $11.3 million in benefits to the local economy.

This is an investment which will reap both tangible and intangible benefits. Since Republic of Doyle is produced and written out of Newfoundland and Labrador, the opportunity for talent development is significant. The show�s producers intend to hire key crew, cast and other creative partners that are based in this province.

Newfoundland and Labrador professional film artists will be given the opportunity to develop substantial credentials and expertise and, as an added bonus, with filming taking place in St. John�s, this is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the capital city � and indeed the entire province � to the rest of the country and to the world.

We are very excited about this project. Filming is expected to begin this summer, and we intend to make a further announcement at that time, with the producing partners, to provide more details on this initiative.

I invite my colleagues to celebrate with us this milestone in the development of the growing film sector.

2009 04 30                         1:50 p.m.