Film and TV Sector Booming in Canada Amid COVID-19


The workers on the film sets are adhering to safety and health protocol with reports of low COVID-19 cases.

Since the industry has been reopened last summer, Canada has been welcoming television (TV) and film personnel and it is also booming.

There are around 87 major productions taking place as per the Directors Guild of Canada, in Ontario alone. The TV series included in this production are Chucky, See, Locke and Key, and Star Trek.

This film industry has been made to flourish amid the COVID-19 pandemic due to the collaborative efforts of Unions and producers to keep things clean and safe, adhering to the safety and health protocols. Because of these efforts, the number of cases for COVID-19 has always been on the lower side from the beginning of opening this sector.

As per the statistics in a survey of productions in Ontario last year, the report came that less than 0.1 percent of film and TV crew has been found with the virus. These kinds of results show the commitment of this sector to operate.


15 investigations of productions were being held by the Toronto Public Health since the last fall and only 34 cases of COVID-19 were found. 


What is the reason behind film crew safety?

There is a set of safety and health protocols that are outlined for workplaces by the government. These rules are strictly followed by the film sets.  The film producers worked with unions so as to customize the protocols for the film and TV industry.

The Chief Operating Officer of Muse Entertainment, Aren Prupas, said that regular testing and health screening have become a norm nowadays.

It is also mandated that when actors are required to take off their masks to perform, everybody else is required to wear a face shield and mask.


Production Benefits

This industry is only doing in popular locations like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, but it is also booming in provinces like Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador.


Taking the example of Alberta, this province has increased tax credits and also removed funding caps as well. Due to this reason large budget productions are considering these provinces now.

The Federal government is also pitching in to help these productions by insuring against COVID-19 shutdowns. This is done by using Short-Term Compensation Funds (STCF), which was just recently announced. 


The Ministry of Canadian Heritage made an announcement on increasing the coverage on the date of May 21, thus bringing the total to $149 million Canadians. 

As for the Canada Work Permit options for Television and Film Producer workers, Canada is more than willing to welcome workers from abroad in order to come and work in the film and TV industry. But it is advisable to know how these work permits work and how to obtain such permits.

The workers in this industry can be classified as Business visitors. Hence these candidates are also exempted from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirement as well.


The LMIA is a document that is used for showing that no Canadian citizen or permanent residents are available or qualified to perform the job. Film producers coming to Canada on a foreign-financed production, performing artists as well as other essential candidates that are entering Canada for a short period of time are eligible to make a landing in Canada as a business visitor.

Some workers in the film and TV industry may need to have a work permit in order to come to Canada.

Some of the workers may be given exemption from LMIA but others may have to obtain an LMIA as a part of their work permit process.

The workers that are exempted from the LMIA category are usually those candidates whose occupations are essential for the production and are also eligible through the Television and Film Production Workers category.

For the candidates who do not need an LMIA, shows that no permanent resident or Canadian exists that can perform the said jobs. This is made sure by carrying out advertisements for the said position in Canada.

However, there are many workers in the film and TV industry that can be granted a facilitated process where the said position does not need to be advertised.

In short, it is safe to say that the film and TV industry is currently a booming sector in Canada amid this pandemic time. Being a large sector, it is a home for a large number of vacancies and opportunities.
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