Vancouver, BC - Nine out of ten Vancouver-area residents support further growth of the film industry in the region, and believe the sector is important to the economy in Greater Vancouver, according to a recent opinion poll conducted by Ipsos-Reid for the Vancouver Economic Development Commission.
When asked about specific actions designed to encourage the industry, 81% supported maintaining the existing provincial tax incentive programs, 88% supported increasing marketing efforts to bring more productions to the area, and 83% supported allocating additional resources to encourage Canadian-made film and television productions. Within the City of Vancouver, there was 81% support for streamlining the requirements to secure a location permit, with 97% of residents indicating they would accept a film production in their neighbourhood.
“These poll results confirm the public’s support for the film industry in Vancouver, and a willingness to use public policy tools to encourage further growth,” said VEDC executive director Melinda Entwistle. “In the coming weeks we will be approaching Vancouver city council with specific recommendations.”
The poll builds on work previously conducted to examine Vancouver’s competitiveness in securing international film production activity.
“This is a very competitive, cost-sensitive industry," said Ms. Entwistle. "With the rise of the Canadian dollar and increased competition from abroad, Vancouver must work proactively to maintain our current level of production activity – this means finding ways to streamline processes and reduce costs for the industry.”
Vancouver is the primary hub of a thriving BC film and television production industry that employs 24,000 people locally and draws nearly $1 billion in production expenditures annually.
The survey question was included in the monthly Reid Express survey of BC residents as a part of VEDC's quarterly polling initiative. Detailed survey results can be found here. (PDF link)
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For more information please contact:
Melinda Entwistle, Executive Director
604-632-9668 ext 103
