ACTRA Toronto Performers attended Question Period in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the We Rise Up Rally at Queen’s Park on Monday, May 13 to engage the Government of Ontario to assist the union in ending what is now a two-year lockout by the Institute of Canadian Agencies (ICA) of ACTRA performers who work in commercials.

This unprovoked, unfair and unjust attack on some of the most precarious workers in our economy has cost ACTRA members their jobs, their dreams, their hopes and, in some cases, their homes.
 
While ACTRA performers in Ontario struggle to make ends meet, agencies of the Government of Ontario have continued to work with some locking out advertising agencies to produce non-union ads with tax-payer money.
 
During Question Period, Opposition MPPs Dr. Jill Andrew and Jamie West both questioned the Government of Ontario about how they would assist ACTRA in ending the lockout. The Hon. David Piccini, the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development of Ontario, recognized that government agencies like “Destination Ontario, Metrolinx and OLG, do seek advertising services” and committed to “calling after Question Period the heads of all three agencies” to have a “conversation with them because I recognize that government does have a role here” and “we want a deal here between both bodies [ACTRA and the ICA].”

“It was made clear that ACTRA Toronto performers have been heard by the Government of Ontario following Minister Piccini’s remarks during Question Period. We look forward to an update from the Government about the conversations with the heads of the three agencies as well as how we can work together on a path forward to end this labour dispute.”

ACTRA Toronto President David Gale

Following Question Period, ACTRA Toronto performers held the We Rise Up Rally in front of the Legislative Building to again call on the Government of Ontario to assist in ending the lockout. While politicians and labour allies shared their messages of support, ACTRA Toronto Vice Presidents Amy Matysio and Kate Ziegler and Treasurer Paul Constable also shared personal stories about how they have been impacted by the commercial lockout.

Ask Your MPP

As a voter, you have the first claim to your MPP’s attention and efforts and your MPP is interested in hearing what you have to say.

Why not take the opportunity to call the constituency office and ask for a 15-minute meeting to let your MPP know about the NCA lockout and how it’s affecting you and other performers in their own constituency?

Please help get the word out on your social networks. Remember to tag @actratoronto on IG and X and use the hashtag #WeRiseUp.

To arrange and attend a meeting, please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Find your MPP

The quickest and easiest way to find your MPP is with the Ontario Legislature MPP search tool. Click on the button below to Find Your MPP.

Step 2: Email or telephone your MPP’s constituency office to arrange an in-person or telephone meeting.

Step 3: Familiarize yourself with the issues. Read, bookmark or download our Key NCA Messages Sheet.

Step 4: Print out and bring with you the NCA Action Lobby Kit, including the answer log.

Step 5: After your in-person or telephone meeting, simply fill-in your MPP’s responses and feedback in our convenient Lobby Report Form. Don’t forget to take along your smartphone to your meeting and get a picture with your MPP and post it so social media – remember to tag @actratoronto on IG and X and use the hashtag #WeRiseUp.