CMPA Outlines COVID-19 Impact on Canadian Media Sector

A production shutdown in Canada that runs through June will result in the sector taking a C$2.5 billion ($1.8 billion) hit, according to the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA).

The shutdown of production caused by COVID-19 affects about 172,000 jobs across Canada, CMPA adds.

“Much like the retail, hospitality and tourism sectors, COVID-19 has brought media production in Canada to a screeching halt,” said Reynolds Mastin, president and CEO of CMPA. “These numbers should serve as a wakeup call for what’s at stake, and motivate us all to work together to ensure the industry can get back on its feet as quickly as possible once this crisis ends.”

Mastin added, “The federal government has taken an active interest in the impact on our sector, and I’d like to specifically thank the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Steven Guilbeault, for the recently-announced COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations. We look forward to working with the Minister, his staff, and the federal funding bodies to develop a plan to direct this support toward the individuals and companies working in production who have been hit hard by the fallout from COVID-19.”