8 June 2020

Honourable Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Sent via E-mail ([email protected])

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,

Subject: Extend the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

On behalf of our 27,000 members, ACTRA is calling on the Government of Canada to take immediate action to extend the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) for cultural sector workers beyond the current 16-week maximum period until such time as regular work opportunities return.

The economic implications of COVID-19 on the screen-based media production industry have been devastating. A recent impact study commissioned by the Canadian Media Producers Association estimates a production shutdown lasting from mid-March until the end of June will put as much as $2.5 billion in production volume at risk and impact up to 172,000 jobs across the country.

Before the screen-based production sector can reopen, industry-specific health and safety concerns must be addressed and our government must ease travel restrictions for performers, directors, producers and crews.

Film, television and other cultural sector workers, who are ineligible for Employment Insurance benefits, welcomed the introduction of the CERB to help them get through this crisis. However, with our industry many weeks or even months away from getting back to normal, we desperately need that support to continue. This is why we are calling on the Government of Canada to extend the CERB beyond the current 16- week maximum period and allow the program to remain in place until our industry fully reopens and our members can get back to work.

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Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists

ACTRA National Office Affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) 625 Church Street ∙ Suite 300 ∙ Toronto ON M4Y 2G1 and the International Federation of Actors (FIA) Toll free 1-800-387-3516 ∙ Tel (416) 489-1311 Branch Offices: Vancouver ∙ Calgary ∙ Regina ∙ Winnipeg Fax (416) 489-8076 ∙ E-mail [email protected] ∙ www.actra.ca Toronto ∙ Ottawa ∙ Montreal ∙ Halifax ∙ St. John’s

Over the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to speak with government officials from Canadian Heritage and Finance to share the concerns of performers as well as gig economy workers as we wait for our industry and the economy to reopen.

While our health care and other front-line workers have been saving lives and providing essential services every day, we have counted on the work of Canadian artists and performers to bring us comfort and laughter during these uncertain times and help us feel a little less alone.

We are counting on the Government of Canada to continue to be there for cultural workers by extending CERB for as long as necessary.

In solidarity,

David Sparrow ACTRA National President

cc: Hon. Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage ([email protected]) Hon. Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance ([email protected])