Tourism, Culture and Recreation
April 30, 2009
The following statement was issued today by the Honourable Tom
Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, on behalf of the
Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.
It was also read in the House of Assembly:
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. |