NDP MLAs and B.C. film industry members gathered at Brightlight Pictures at Burnaby's Bridge Studios on Sunday (January 31) to call for government action to help the B.C. film industry regain its competitive edge.

In June 2009, Quebec and Ontario announced they would expand their tax credits to include all production costs. (Shortly thereafter, Alberta, which operates on a grant system instead of credits, also increased its tax incentive program from a maximum cap of $3 million to $5 million.)

This interprovincial competition left B.C. behind, as our province's tax credit only covers labour-related expenses.

Consequently, B.C. has been losing productions to other Canadian provinces with more attractive tax credits.

Film productions hoping to shoot in Vancouver have also had to rearrange their schedules or relocate due to the road closures and other logistical problems caused by the 2010 Winter Olympics.

NDP leader Carole James, arts and tourism critic Spencer Herbert, and finance critic Bruce Ralston joined Shawn Williamson of Brightlight Pictures, who told the Straight in September of last year that he had already lost several projects to Ontario and opened an office in Toronto for his Vancouver-based company.

James proposed enhancements of the  visual effects tax credits, the film incentive tax credit, and tax credits for production services in addition to a bonus for TV pilots and shows in their first year and an intellectual property tax development fund.

The provincial budget will be released on March 2.