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................................................................. ACTRA Toronto and Status of the Artist .......................................................... Status of the Artist Legislation gets failing grade May 4, 2007 - The long-awaited Status of the Ontario’s Artists Act was introduced at Queen’s Park in March, 2007 as a three-page schedule at the back of the budget bill. Unfortunately, this legislation, that ought to have been a triumph for artists in Ontario, fell far short of what ACTRA and all other artists had hoped for. Despite years of work and consultation, all the new Act provides is a “Celebrate the Artist Weekend”. ACTRA and other artists’ organizations appeared before the Standing Committee of Finance and Economic affairs in April asking for amendments to the proposed Status of Ontario’s Artists Act. ACTRA Toronto President Karl Pruner, along with Canadian stars Wendy Crewson, Sonja Smits and Tonya Lee Williams, held a news conference asking for amendments including protections for child performers, income averaging, training, housing support and a process to improve the collective bargaining process for artists. Unfortunately, amendments proposed by Michael Prue of the NDP were defeated by the Liberal members of the committee while the Conservatives abstained. ACTRA will continue the campaign for real Status of the Artist legislation in Ontario. Along with the Ontario Federation of Labour and other groups, we will be challenging all parties on Status of the Artist in the 2007 provincial election. .......................................................... May 11, 2007 - Bill Fails Artists -- Status of Ontario’s Artists Act Just Window Dressing April 25, 2007 - Canadian stars calls on government to keep Status of the Artist promise April 19, 2007 - ACTRA news release - Stars call on government to keep Status of the Artist promise April 10, 2007 – ACTRA’s letter to Culture Minister Di Cocco requesting amendments March 29, 2007 – ACTRA Toronto news release on Status of the Artist legislation March 28, 2007 - DiNovo introduces bill to protect child actors March 22, 2007 – ACTRA Toronto news release on Ontario budget April 11, 2007 – Ontario Federation of Labour letter to Minister Di Cocco May 10, 2006 – Canadian stars call for action on Status of the Artist .......................................................... News release – May 10, 2006 Ontario Hansard (Queen's Park) - May 10, 2006 Lobby day photo gallery - May 10, 2006 ACTRA Toronto’s Brief to the Ontario government’s Subcommittee on Status of the Artist View Status of the Artist Video Clips here .......................................................... Background “Status of the Artist” is a term describing a category of government legislation and programs which improve the economic and social status of professional artists. ACTRA has a long history working for Status of the Artist laws in Canada . Our former General Secretary, Paul Siren, was a pioneer who helped draft the 1980 UNESCO Recommendation on Status of the Artist. He went on to co-chair the federal government’s Task Force on Status of the Artist. The Task Force’s report, released in 1986 led to the passing of the federal Status of the Artist Act in 1992. ACTRA Toronto participated in Ontario government consultations in the 1990s. At its 2004 Policy Conference on Status of the Artist, the Canadian Conference of the Arts provided a chronology of progress toward Status of the Artist legislation. “The need to recognize that artists have the same rights as other citizens, in the workplace and in society, has been the subject of discussion for at least 30 years in Canada, and has been debated for an even longer time in other countries around the world.” Canadian Conference of the Arts Status of the Artist chronology Canadian Conference of the Arts 2004 Policy Conference on Status of the Artist Ontario ’s Ministry of Culture – Minister’s Advisory Committee on Status of the Artist <<< BACK TO HOME PAGE

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