Login / RegisterA conspiracy theory about Adrian Dix and the B.C. film industry
Occasionally, the highest compliment a journalist can receive is to be called a conspiracy theorist.
This epithet can actually suggest that the reporter or columnist is probing possibilities that the rest of the pack hasn't considered.
In that spirit, I'm going to lay out some of my thoughts about B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix's approach to the B.C. film industry.
This morning, I heard Dix say on The Bill Good Show that his recent trip to Hollywood was prepared months ago.
It makes sense because an opposition politician probably can't fly into Los Angeles on short notice and obtain meetings with top executives at Disney, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Bros. This takes planning.
According to Dix, it was a coincidence that his trip occurred just after thousands of film-industry workers and their families held a town-hall meeting at North Shore Studios. This was to press the B.C. government to save their jobs.
A week earlier, the NDP candidate in Vancouver–False Creek, Matt Toner, wrote a commentary on Straight.com condemning the B.C. Liberal government for its "indifference" to the film industry.
"Adrian Dix, on the other hand, clearly understands the importance of creativity and innovation as a path to our province’s future," Toner stated. "And the way we get there is by taking a series of measured steps that engage the industry and the people working in it."
Toner, a digital-media producer and economist, surprised many by narrowly defeating Vancouver park commissioner Constance Barnes for the NDP nomination.
Where's the conspiracy theory?
Try this on for size:
• The B.C. NDP decided a long time ago that it needed to boost its street cred on business issues.
• The problem facing the B.C. NDP is that most industry leaders are strongly in the camp of the B.C. Liberals, particularly in the resource, retail, real estate, and financial-services sectors. There are no third-party endorsers for the NDP at the B.C. Mining Association, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Urban Development Institute, or the Canadian Bankers Association.
• The film and digital-media industries, on the other hand, are not so firmly ensconsed in the B.C. Liberal universe. And the film industry, in particular, is highly unionized, making its workforce a natural ally of the B.C. NDP.
• For years, people in these industries have been grumbling about how B.C. is losing film productions to Ontario, and how Quebec is undermining our video-game sector with generous tax breaks. This provided the B.C. NDP with an opportunity.
• The B.C. NDP solution: nominate a candidate who can speak to these issues with some business credentials. And then hammer away on this up to the election to make the B.C. Liberals look like economic incompetents.
• Because the film and digital-media industries both offer good visuals, a campaign around saving people's jobs would generate plenty of coverage on TV newscasts with massive audiences. Because these are largely urban-based industries, they're within easy reach of the major provincial media, who could be relied on to deliver a series of stories.
• Book a trip to Hollywood for B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix. And get the producers and unions to raise hell with a huge rally just before the premier-in-waiting returns to Vancouver.
Constance Barnes didn't fit into the script
One obstacle on Dix's road to power, however, was Barnes. She had topped the polls for Vancouver park commissioner in two consecutive civic elections. This constituted a threat to the NDP's broad strategy of nominating Toner as a key NDP voice for the film and digital-media industries.
Fortunately, one of Dix's strongest political allies, NDP fixer Neil Monckton, is the president of the Vancouver–False Creek NDP constituency association.
In the end, Toner reportedly won the nomination by six votes, though feelings still remain bitter in the Barnes camp over the outcome.
Barnes wasn't going to help Dix reinforce his credibility as an economic manager. So she was expendable, notwithstanding her father Emery's long service to the party as an MLA and speaker of the legislature.
B.C. NDP sends economic messages to voters
Dix has been doing other things to convey business savvy to the mainstream, such as ringing the bell at the Toronto Stock Exchange after Catalyst Paper Corporation emerged from bankruptcy protection. Stunts like this are generating positive coverage for him in the Vancouver Sun and other media outlets.
Last year, former Port Moody mayor and businessman Joe Trasolini was elected to the legislature from Port Moody–Coquitlam. This also helped the B.C. NDP calm down its traditional opponents in the editorial offices of large newspapers.
Earlier this month, the B.C. NDP went even further by nominating the former executive director of the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce, Patti MacAhonic, as a candidate. She has ties to the pro-hunting and pro-fishing B.C. Wildlife Federation.
I'm not suggesting that New Democrats don't care about film-industry jobs, because they do. But it's also likely that B.C. NDP organizers have worked hand-in-hand with the film unions and industry officials on the timing of this latest campaign.
The B.C. Liberals tried striking back by announcing an $11-million expenditure to woo the Times of India Group's film awards. This may have backfired, however, after the B.C. NDP revealed that this event was created in advance of the B.C. election after the province failed to attract the International Indian Film Academy Awards.
"They invented a whole new Bollywood awards show trademarked and sponsored solely by the B.C. government so they could hold this event in April," charged B.C. NDP arts and culture critic Spencer Chandra Herbert in a party news release.
In the meantime, B.C. film workers are left wondering why the premier will spend $11 million on a Bollywood awards show while refusing to help preserve their jobs.
And thanks to some shrewd long-term planning by the B.C. NDP, Dix is coming across as the only provincial political leader who gives a damn about them and the domestic film industry.
It's very likely that the B.C. NDP will win the next election even as Toner loses in Vancouver–False Creek. If this occurs, you can be certain that Toner will be taken care of by the party in power.
It's conceivable that by then, an NDP government might even be looking for a new head of the B.C. Film Commission.
So, disclaimer - I've known Matt Toner since 1995 when we were young men starting-out our careers in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Since then we both left - me going into high-tech and Matt, well, Matt into a variety of areas: technology, gaming, theatre, film & TV - heck, there ain't a lot Matt Toner hasn't tried. He's never been a calculating money-grubbing kind of guy: prestige has never been a big motivator for him. He does things because he believes in them - and that's how his brain and heart work. Matt saw an issue, a real issue that people weren't addressing seriously, and he put his heart and soul into making sure people paid attention to it. He stepped-up for something he believed and challenged and upset an annointed NDP candidate with massive party cred. When Matt threw his hat in the ring, he was a huge underdog.
It's easy to look back through the lens of hindsight and impute connectors, imaginary motivations and shady back-room deals without knowing anything about Matt Toner. I am no fan of the BC Provincial NDP and it kills me that Matt is running for them because I am tech corporate guy who aligns more with the Liberal view of the world, but because it's Matt, I know he's an independent thinker, passionate about the cause he believes in, and uniquely capable to execute.
There are also many film industry workers - a fair number of them - that are Big-El BC Liberals, and it's not a case of the unions holding that much sway with their membership.
The trip may have been timely but this is a case of political opportunism, which is completely justfiiable in the current climate. I hope the film industry and larger discussion about the value of cultural industries in BC don't get lost in the political battles that will unfold over the next few months.
Looks like one politician went for Bollywood, the other went to Hollywood.
Disappointing.
"film-production companies—as well as suppliers of catering and lighting—that are currently paying seven-percent PST on rental equipment, props, costumes, and other goods will be able to recover the 12-percent HST after July 1. “That means that yes, they will be paying a higher rate of tax at 12 percent, but the full 12 percent will be fully recoverable by them on their GST returns, which means that effectively they’re not paying that tax,” he said."
http://www.straight.com/movies/hst-benefit-bc-film-industry
If the NDP give the film industry tax credits, what will they do about the HST?
I too work in the film industry and don't want to see it die. It supports too many peripheral industries (hotels, restaurants, transportations, etc.) BC can't just survive from dwindling natural resources for ever. Video game production and smart phone apps are a huge business here and can grow, as long as we're competitive. Writers and story editors like me are the canaries in the coal mine. When we start to leave this province, looking for work, you know there's worse coming for everyone else.
I've known Matt Toner for about ten years. Not closely, but he was my colleague at VFS and I bump into him sometimes because we work near each other. When he told me about running for this election, he was passionate about it. You can create all of the conspiracy theories you like, Mr. Smith, but Matt Toner's a decent man who doesn't want to be "taken care of" by a political party. He wants to represent us: people will families who want BC to have a viable future. He wants to help. Lots of people complain, but how many step up, put their own lives on hold and really try to effect change? I'm proud to know Matt Toner, I wish your article didn't leave me with the grimy feeling that you think he's some kind of political weasel. You just don't know him, Mr. Smith.
You say "This epithet can actually suggest that the reporter or columnist is probing possibilities that the rest of the pack hasn't considered."
Yeah, well it can also suggest that the reporter is a bottom feeder trying to stir something up.
No...it's pretty much standard in politics for X to give money to a political party and in return the political party implements the policies and laws X purchased.
Rather long winded otherwise
http://www.straight.com/news/346406/why-christy-clark-wants-be-seen-savi...
Charlie Smith
If Adrian Dix and Matt Tonner's argument had any validity, we should subsidize every industry.
They argue the film industry produces "spin offs".
Where do they think the money comes from to produce these so-called "spin offs"?
The money comes from higher taxes, which in turn produce NEGATIVE "spin offs". People and companies who are taxed cease to have money with which they create economic activity.
Mr. Dix and Mr. Tonner plan to take money from people and companies who produce real economic activity and give the money away.
To make matters worse, it costs more than 25 cents of every dollar to collect taxes and even more money to redistribute the funds. They are living in a fantasy if they think BC voters are gullible enough to buy this plan.
Mr. Dix is hoping to sail through this election without having to deal with substantive issues. He thinks the make-believe world of the film industry will provide him with that cover. Let's hope he's wrong.
my unanswered email to Dix:
From: Megan Carvell Davis
Date: November 23, 2012 11:02:13 AM PST (CA)
To: Adrian.Dix.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Subject: election of False Creek riding NDP candidate
Dear Adrian,
I believe in the election for the False Creek NDP candidate, Constance Barnes was cheated out of a win. Why do I say this?
First was the decision of the executive of that day not to reveal any more information to NDP members of the riding at the meeting, other than that Matt Toner won the vote. We were not provided with information of how many votes he won by - even though the vote distribution was provided in the Geoff Meggs race in the newspaper (and I assume immediately after that election to the people who had voted for the candidate of their choice). WHY? There's only one answer I can think of: to prevent any of Constance's supporters from questioning or challenging those close results. (Matt won by 6 votes as I understand it)
Number two is what I would have asked at the meeting had the vote count been revealed. If the vote was that close, were the provisional votes counted? And if they were counted, how were they verified for accuracy? I remember Aaron Jasper (Vancouver Park Board Commissioner) telling us before the meeting started that he witnessed 6 voters being given given provisional ballots after claiming they had all recently moved into City Gate Co-op)
Finally, in many years of research on Hadden Park in the Vancouver Archives, I read time after time in city and park board minutes instances of inaccurate claims, disinformation, and either incompetent or corrupt leadership. I am concerned that the vote counting was corrupted by those determined to see if they could wring out a win for Matt.
So, is it still possible to challenge the results as a member of the riding? Or is it all over?
Any feedback you can give me would be much appreciated.
Megan Carvell Davis
The SaveBCfilm movement is a grassroots campaign that was created by film workers who were dissatisfied when Christie Clark deleted hundreds of intelligently written comments on her facebook page. There was no NDP conspiracy behind it pulling strings.
As for Adrian Dix's trip to L.A., one doesn't just hop on a plane and meet with Studio heads on a moments notice. He may be the leader of the opposition in the province but in Hollywood circles he's a nobody. Sorry to burst your conspiracy theory bubble but this is just a coincidence.
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