Alberta
Getting to know… AMPIA
What is AMPIA?
Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) is a vibrant non-profit, member-driven association that leads, builds and promotes Alberta’s screen-based production industry.
When/how/why was it formed?
AMPIA was the first film and television Industry Association in English-speaking Canada. It was formed in 1973 by a small but energetic group of industry professionals in order to represent their common interests and to advocate for and promote the Alberta Film & Television Industries. The primary method of promoting the achievements of the Industry is through the Alberta Film and Television Awards, which just celebrated their 45th Anniversary, making them the longest-running film and TV Awards show in English Canada.
How does it support Media production in the province?
The mandate of the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) is to promote and support the growth of screen-based production within Alberta. This is accomplished by providing services in Communications, Professional Development, Marketing, Membership Benefits and Advocacy to all levels of Government and regulatory bodies such as the CRTC.
How many members are there in the association?
AMPIA has approximately 200 individual members as well as member companies, representing over 2,000 industry professionals — a cross-section that includes producers, directors, screenwriters, performers, craftspeople, distributors, exhibitors, broadcasters, digital and web-based content creators and students engaged in film and media studies.
How large is Alberta’s Media Production Industry?
Volume of production in Alberta in 2017-18 was $308 Million, making it the fourth largest in Canada after BC, Ontario and Quebec.
How has the industry changed in the past 10 years?
The major change in the Industry is the rise of OTTs (Over the Top) distribution platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. These platforms operate in the Canadian market and yet make no contribution to Canadian content through the Canada Media Fund. Nor do they make any contribution to the Canadian economy, as they don’t pay taxes in Canada. As the traditional Broadcasters face increasing competition for advertising revenue, the amount of funding available for Canadian producers is shrinking rapidly.
What is your greatest opportunity to make a positive impact and what does that look like?
Alberta’s production was just over $300 Million and supported approximately 5,500 jobs in 2017-18, whereas next door in BC their volume of production was $3.8 Billion, with over 75,000 people working in production and post-production. Our greatest opportunity would be to level the playing field between Alberta and other jurisdictions in North America, which will lead to growth in jobs and economic impact in our Province.
What is the greatest threat to the industry in Alberta?
The lack of a competitive incentive. Most jurisdictions in North America use a tax rebate system, as opposed to the grant system used in Alberta. The grant system is beneficial in that it is faster and easier to administer than a tax rebate; however, the problem is the Fund is capped at $7.5M per project, making large-scale productions unfeasible. A tax rebate system has no cap.
From the YouTube channel of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
Members of the media join Premier Danielle Smith for a round table on January 21, 2025.
Yakk Stack By Sheldon Yakiwchuk
Prior to Trumps inauguration event and announcement was made that Trump would not be imposing the 25% tariffs…
Which means, Canada seriously dodged a bullet here.
And while the Liberals will most likely frame this as, their success in showing, Bad Orange Man, that they’re tough and ready to burn down what is left of our economy, throwing Alberta under the bus, first…through a nuclear option…
Premier Smith rode this challenge out like the true champion we knew that she would be.
It’s hard to say if this was a legality matter in the grander scheme…or if the 25% tariffs would have truly been as big of an impact on the US…
One thing is clear, however…
Smith was ready to go to the tables with the Trump administration and opt for diplomacy over threats…which should be what we expect from our leaders.
And should these 25% tariffs have gone through…I’m more than sure a Plan B would have been brought out in civil conversations, over screeching rhetoric.
“She’s treasonous”, they screeched.
“She’s supporting her friends in Oil and Gas”, they relent.
“She should put Canada first”, they echo…
And let’s just address these…
Is Walmart beholden to Campbells soup? Fruit of the Loom? Kraft?
Or does Walmart sell products that helps keep their doors open?
Walmart is not beholden to any product…just like Premier Smith isn’t. We have 26% of our GDP – the largest portion – owed to Alberta O&G, something that we have a limited trade partner with, due to the Liberal – Anti-Alberta/Anti-O&G/Anti-Pipeline attitude that wants to spend us further in debt with unreliable and expensive “Renewables”.
What does Alberta get from renewables?
A higher cost for energy, in an affordability crisis, created by the same people who continue to push them…sounds like a terrible deal, for Albertans, and something a true leader would Not Favor.
When Walmart sits down to hash out a deal with Heinz, are they committing treason because they haven’t shown their allegiance to their own, ‘Great Value’ brand Ketchup?
No…other provinces have their own industries and resources, which they are free to continue developing independent of the federal government, as is suitable and supportive of their own economies…Alberta isn’t competing with them, nor Canada as a whole.
Alberta through industry and resource, actually supports Canada through a grand imbalance on “Equalization Payments”…
As do we through paying 50% more into the Canada Pension Plan, than we actually get out of the Canada Pension Plan…to the tune of a $334 Billion Dollars.
And as for this “Team Canada”, horseshit…
The title Premier of Alberta, should hold some clues as to who Premier Smith should be advocating for…as she is the Premier of Alberta and Not the Prime Minister, nor leader in the Liberal Party that has created this fiasco, to begin with.
Rail, as they may…other provinces can’t cast a vote in her support, either way…
None of the other provinces, through Members of Parliament, nor through Premiers, came to support Alberta and our economy through a number of Federal Bills that railed on our provincial resources…
Worse yet…these hypocrites cash cheques from our province, while telling us how to diversify our economy…to which I’d state one thing unequivocally…
If we wanted to be a Have Not Province…like you are…we’ll come and ask you for your advice.
Until then…
I’ll hold my Alberta Flag Higher than my Canadian…
And be proud today, of having the only Premier in the country of Canada, worthy of any praise today!
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