An incentive designed to encourage film and television production on PEI was announced today by Development and Technology Minister Mike Currie. The Prince Edward Island Film and Television Labour Rebate will rebate a percentage of labour costs to eligible film and televison production companies. The rebate would be available to companies that produce work in the province and who employ Prince Edward Islanders.
"The idea is to encourage more companies to develop key human resources here in the province," said Minister Currie. "In turn, that will help to develop a stronger film and television production industry in the province."
In order to be eligible for the rebate, a company must have a permanent establishment in Prince Edward Island. In the case of co-productions, a PEI production company must own at least twenty five percent of the production. The company must also spend a minimum of twenty five percent of their total production budget in the province.
The rebate will provide the company with either thirty percent of total PEI labour expenditures or fifteen percent of the eligible total production costs. Companies receive the rebate at the completion of the production.
The program will be administered for the province by Technology PEI.
"In order for this province to have a film and television industry, we must be able to provide a highly skilled workforce," said Larry LeClair of EastWest Media, an Island based production company. "This program will allow production companies the flexibility of training staff - and will also provide them with a real incentive to encourage and to hire Island talent."
The program also includes a "deeming" provision. If a technical position cannot be filled by a Prince Edward Island resident, a non resident may be deemed eligible for the rebate as long as the individual supervises the training of at least one Island resident during the production.
The program will be a one year pilot with the intention of renewing in subsequent years.