Film aid would return under NDP, Cam Broten promises

The NDP in Saskatchewan ispromising to dust off an old script and bring back a film and video incentive program to aid the province's movie industry.

On Wednesday, NDP leader Cam Broten announced that if elected he will resurrect the subsidy, a tax creditthat was axed by the province, led by the Saskatchewan Party, in 2012.

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Broten's sequel would be bigger than the previous version. In addition to the 45-per-cent film employment tax credit, his version would add a 15-per-cent tax credit for non-labour costs.

Broten said that four years after the program was ended, people do not understand the rationale behind making the cut.

"People just can't understand why this decision was made," Broten said.

"I think it's held up and widely seen throughout the province as one of the most stupid decisions that the Sask. Party made and really one of the most mean-spirited ones too because [of] the hurt and the disruption that it caused to so many lives."

The government responded saying the provincial agency that provides support to movie-making, Creative Saskatchewan, has the ability to grow the film industry.

Mark Docherty, the minister of Parks, Culture and Recreation, said the government is focussed on small-scale projects instead of big Hollywood-style productions.

"The particular model that we have through Creative Saskatchewan the grant program has given us a little bit of momentum here," he said. "We've had ten productions this past summer.