PCs pledge $4.5M to build bigger sound stage for film, TV productions

Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives are promisingto subsidize the construction of a newsound stage to help the province's film and TVindustry if they're re-elected this fall.

PC Leader Heather Stefanson pledged Thursday to contribute $4.5 million toward such a facility, which she said would helpManitoba in "getting to that next level" to competewith other jurisdictions that host TV and movie productions.

She made theannouncement in the lobby of Big Sky Studios, afilm and television production facility in Winnipeg's Inkster Industrial neighbourhood that has several stages.

The funding"will be directed towards a large-scale film production [facility] like here at Big Sky," Stefanson said.

Stefanson said she does not know whether the cash would flow to anexisting facility like Blue Sky or help build a new one. She also said she was not certain whether the money would be a loan ora grant but suggested it would constitute "bridge financing" and requiresome form of competitive bidding process in order to obtain.

That will be determined later, Stefanson said.

Ed Kolic, Big Sky's CEO, said he would like the money to flow to his studio. Big Sky opened its production facility earlier this year in the former offices of Nygard International on Inkster Boulevard.

Stefanson also promised Thursday to offer a film-tax credit bonus of 10 per cent to productions that use Manitoba music for more than 50 per cent of their soundtracks.

She could not say whether "Manitoba music" would be defined as composed, recorded, produced or otherwise made in this province. That will be determined later, said Obby Khan, who served asministerof sport, culture andheritage in the PC government and is the party's candidate for Fort Whyte in the Oct. 3 election.

NDP spokesperson Rebecca Widdicombe said in a statement if funding for film and TV production were priorities for the Stefanson,that would have been part of theprovincialbudget this year.

$16M jobs fund

Earlier Thursday, the PCs said they would create a fund aimed at recruiting and retaining workers as a means of addressing job vacancies in Manitoba if they're re-elected.

Kevin Klein, the PC candidate for Kirkfield Park, said the party would put up an initial investment of $16 million over the next five years for an initiative he said would help fill an estimated 100,000 job vacancies in Manitoba.

"We want to help our young peoplefind the career that they want right here at home so they don't have to go east or west of home to find the job they want,"Klein said at a news conference in Winnipeg on Thursday.

"We're going to make sure we create it for them right here by building the base for economic prosperity."

Klein said Manitoba's labour market outlook forecasts more than 114,000 job openings in the next five years. That includes15,400 in the wholesale and retail sector, 8,400 in construction,7,900 in manufacturingand 5,700 in transportation and warehousing, a PC news release said.

Klein said those openings will come as a result ofeconomic growth and retirements.

Kevin Mitchell, co-owner and vice-president of operations for Wildwood Transport, said the fundcouldhelp the company realize its goals of expanding by bolstering its workforce.

The government would consultindustry andpost-secondary institutions in developing its plansand seek additional financial investment from the private sector, Klein said.

• Read full coverage of the 2023 Manitoba election here

Klein also announced $15-million would be set asideto give the trucking industry incentivesto upgrade and improve the aerodynamic efficiency of vehiclesto save on fuel and other costs.

Those upgrades could help companies save aboutfour per cent on their bottom line, he said.

"The savings will add up quickly and help bring down the price of groceries and goods and the costs for the many trucking industries that call Manitoba home," he said.

Widdicombe said in a statement the province has done nothing for seven years to help trucking companies become more energy efficient.