ACTRA Maritimes Blog

Ricky Joins the Fight for Canadian Programming

By EARL MCRAE, OTTAWA SUN
Oh, the terror of it.

The Westin Hotel is a-swarming with uniformed cops and private security guards because a horde of scented potentates in lovely clothes called the Canadian Association of Broadcasters are petrified by a terrorist organization of actors, directors, and writers called ACTRA, well-known and feared for its history of brutal torture, kidnapping, and killing.

“Do you have a pass?” demands a security yob as I cross the lobby.

“No. I’m looking for a washroom.”

“Sorry, you can’t be here.”

Brilliant yob. I might be an ACTRA suicide bomber heading for a washroom to set my timer.

There are more cops and guards inside the hotel than outside where some 300 members of ACTRA — obviously concealing knives, grenades, and bombs under their clothes — are marching up and down the sidewalk, the CAB conventioneers shaking in fear over their vicious life-snuffing signs saying Support Canadian Programming On TV and their chants “More Canada On TV.”

No doubt the intelligence wing of the terrified, elitist CAB discovered that two of the smelly, protesting terrorists upset at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters selling out its soul to less-costly, canned, Yankee drama at the expense of true north strong and free drama are Julian and Ricky, the crude, rude, scary, get-outta-my-face stars of Trailer Park Boys, and, omigod, what if they kidnap, torture, and kill us? More »

ACTRA CHALLENGES BROADCASTERS TO PUT MORE CANADA ON TV

Ottawa – November 5, 2007 – Canadian stars and hundreds of ACTRA members and supporters told Canada’s private broadcasters to put more Canada on TV. ACTRA’s demonstration outside the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ convention in Ottawa included well-known Canadian stars Eric Peterson (Corner Gas), Julie Stewart (Cold Squad), Maritimes members Robb Wells and John Paul Tremblay (Trailer Park Boys), ACTRA’s National President Richard Hardacre and ACTRA Toronto President Karl Pruner.

“Those people call themselves Canadian broadcasters. I say that’s a name you have to earn, and you don’t earn it by producing zero one-hour dramatic shows and signing over Canada’s primetime to a different country,” said Peterson.

“Last year, Canada’s English-language broadcasters spent almost $500 million in Hollywood and a grand total of $40 million on Canadian dramas. For every dollar they spend on drama in Canada, they spent 12 dollars in Hollywood. It’s time for more Canada on Canadian TV,” said Stewart.

“Become real Canadian broadcasters. Produce real Canadian shows, and show them on TV when Canadians are watching,” said Wells.

“The people of Canada deserve to see themselves and their own stories on their own airwaves,” said Tremblay.

“We’re here today to tell broadcasters, the CRTC and Canadians that we need more Canadian drama on TV. If we don’t speak up, we stand to lose our airwaves to Hollywood. Our culture and our country are too important to stay silent. It’s time for action by the CRTC and by the broadcasters,” said Hardacre.

ACTRA has been calling for regulations requiring Canada’s private broadcasters to spend at least 7% of their advertising revenues on new Canadian English-language drama programming and to schedule at least two hours more of Canadian dramas in real primetime (Sunday to Thursday, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.)