From Michael MacDonald of The Canadian Press:

Canadian Film, TV Tax Credits Drying Up As Provinces Seek To Balance Budgets
Camera operator Andrew Stretch remembers the day in 2013 when a campaigning politician looked into his camera lens and promised to help create jobs that would allow more young people to stay and work in Nova Scotia.

The politician was Stephen McNeil, now the province’s premier.

Stretch says McNeil broke his word last week when he tabled a budget measure that effectively kills a tax credit that most other provinces are still offering the film and TV industry. Continue reading.

From a media release:

BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE) today announced that Kevin Crull will depart from the position of President of Bell Media effective today.

“Kevin Crull departs Bell with our thanks for his contributions to our customers and shareholders,” said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE Inc. “Kevin has been a significant part of Bell’s strategic transformation as he expanded Bell Media’s leadership with major new investments in Canadian content, the successful integration of Astral and competitive innovations like CraveTV.”

“However, the independence of Bell Media’s news operations is of paramount importance to our company and to all Canadians. There can be no doubt that Bell will always uphold the journalistic standards that have made CTV the most trusted brand in Canadian news,” said Mr. Cope.

Kevin Crull joined Bell in 2005 as President of Consumer Solutions and was appointed President of Bell Media following Bell’s acquisition of CTVglobemedia in 2011. He serves as a director of SickKids Foundation and is a leading supporter of the Walk for Kids Help Phone, the national youth counselling service funded by the Bell Let’s Talk mental health initiative.

From Canadian Press:

Nova Scotia to overhaul film tax credit as budget forecasts $98-million deficit
The $10-billion budget maintains a $24-million annual film tax credit for this year but restructures it. And next year, the credit will be reduced to $6-million next year, a move the government concedes will make the province less competitive with most other jurisdictions.

“I recognize this change will be deeply felt and many will react negatively,” said Finance Minister Diana Whalen. “We simply cannot afford to maintain the credit in its current form.” Continue reading.