Past Initiatives

2009 – Quebec Tax Credit Increase

QEPC successfully lobbied the Quebec government to increase the provincial production tax credit.
According to the Quebec Finance Department, this measure has generated approximately $25 million in domestic production funding every year since 2009.

• Allocation: about $19 million (75%) to French production and $6 million (25%) to English production.

• Total impact over 12 years: roughly $228 million in new French funding and $72 million in new English funding.

2013 – Canada Media Fund (CMF) and the Official Languages Act

Following a 100-page complaint filed by QEPC, the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL) agreed that the CMF is subject to the Official Languages Act and that English-Quebec funding had to be stabilized.

• Result: Creation of the Anglophone Minority Incentive (AMI) fund.

• Impact: Over $42 million spent since its establishment.

• Ongoing work: QEPC continues to lobby PCH and CMF to expand the AMI budget, which grew from $3 million to $4.7 million per year, but dipped to $4.2 million in 2024.

• Goal: Ensure that 10% of the CMF’s English envelope supports OLMC production—matching the percentage guaranteed to French minorities outside Quebec.

2015 – NFB Collaboration Agreement

The National Film Board (NFB) signed a Collaboration Agreement with the English OLMC (QEPC and ELAN) in 2015 and has renewed it annually.

• The NFB agreed not to reduce its English-Quebec production budget below 23% of its total English production.

• Most recently, 27% of its national English budget has been allocated to OLMC production.

CRTC Decisions Influenced by QEPC

Rogers (CRTC 2012-697)

• Must spend at least 3% of its national independent production budget in Quebec.

Bell (CRTC 2013-310)

• Must spend at least 10% of its English PNI tangible benefits from the Astral sale on English OLMC production.

CBC (CRTC 2013-263 and 2022-165)

• Must spend at least 6% of its national English-language independent production budget and 10% of its development budget in Quebec.

• Since this decision, CBC has averaged 8% on OLMC production, 12% on development, and spent over $76 million on OLMC licence fees.

Videotron – MaTV Montreal (CRTC 2015-31)

• Must allocate 20% of its budget and schedule to English-language programming (previously 100% French).

• MaTV now provides opportunities for emerging anglophone talent, and its English shows rank among the channel’s most popular.

Private Broadcasters – Group Licence Renewal (CRTC 2017-148)

• Major broadcasters receive a 25% bonus on Canadian Programming Expenditures (CPE) spent on OLMC production.

• Over the last three years, BCE has invested over $133 million in OLMC content.

• QEPC is considering advocating for a 100% bonus at the next licence renewal.

Regional Production Tax Credit Proposal

QEPC supported the Quebec Film and Television Council (BCTQ) and others in proposing an expansion of the regional production tax credit, making eligibility based on shooting location as well as producer location.

Proposed incentives:

• +8% bonus for productions shot 25–75 km from Montreal.

• +8% bonus for productions shot beyond 75 km.

• Service productions: +6% bonus + 6% distance bonus.

Although the Quebec Government has not yet adopted this proposal, QEPC continues to advocate for its implementation.

Legislative and Policy Advocacy

In recent years, QEPC has:

• Intervened with the Broadcasting and Telecom Legislative Review Panel (BTLR / Yale Report).

• Testified before the Standing Heritage Committee on Bill C-11 (which amended the Broadcasting Act in 2023).

• Supported the adoption of Bill C-13, strengthening the Official Languages Act (2023).

• Collaborated with the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) to bring foreign Big Tech companies under Canadian regulatory and taxation frameworks.

QEPC continues these efforts to ensure equitable treatment and sustainable support for English-language creators in Quebec.

Last updated: August 2024