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The Writers Guild of Canada and the Canadian Media Producers Association, which represent local indie film and television producers, have agreed to terms for a new employment contract.
Terms of the latest Independent Production Agreement, which has yet to be ratified, were not disclosed. However, they cover the rates and working conditions for Canadian writers, story editors and story consultants.
Key stumbling blocks in Canadian labor negotiations included ensuring fair compensation for writers, safeguards against the development of artificial intelligence technologies in live-action and animated projects, and minimum writers’ room staffing on domestic television series.
To secure influence at the negotiating table, WGC members voted 96.5 percent to authorize a strike if a new agreement could not be reached with the CMPA. The Directors Guild of Canada supported the WGC in announcing the results of its strike vote.
Issues that were in the WGC’s crosshairs leading up to the tentative agreement with local producers, such as AI protections, writer compensation and TV writer size minimums, also figured in negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the AMPTP last year , which led to a lengthy Hollywood writers’ strike before a new contract could be agreed.
The tentative new IPA deal was presented by Victoria Shen, executive director of the WGC, and Sean Porter, vice president of national labor relations and advisory for the CMPA. The new contract will be submitted to the CMPA Board of Directors and WGC members for ratification.
The current agreement expired on December 31, 2023.
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