Canada - Country Information

Film Commissions

Alberta

Alberta Film Commission
Tel: 780 422 8584, 888 813 1738 (toll free) Fax: 780 422 8582
E-mail: connie.armstrong@gov.ab.ca
Website: www.albertafilm.ca
Film Commissioner: Connie Armstrong

Introduction
Alberta is a large province offering scenery ranging from its Rocky Mountains in the west to agricultural landscapes, lakes, rolling hills and aspen parklands in the north to eerie moonscapes in the south.

British Columbia

British Columbia Film Commission
Tel: 604 660 2732 Fax: 604 660 4790
E-mail: info@bcfilmcommission.com
Website: www.bcfilmcommission.com
Film Commissioner: Susan Croome

Introduction
British Columbia continues to be one of North America's major production centers. During the past decade, the industry has grown from providing location services into a full-scale international production center. In addition to spectacular and diverse locations, BC offers: world class technical capabilities in crew personnel; top notch equipment suppliers; studio and post-production facilities in film, video sound and animation; and a large talent pool of high-calibre and professional performers. We are a full service production center, including resident producers ready to participate in co-production ventures, with financial programs in place to provide venture capital and loan guarantees.

Permits
The BC Film Commission, through its web site, is a portal to production permitting in the province of British Columbia. The web site also includes both a production and locations guide to assist you with useful information for production purposes. It has a knowledgeable, experienced staff able to provide advice on locations, production matters, work permits and other services. Our digital photo library is comprehensive and available to you as a resource for your location search. We would be pleased to do a script breakdown, provide photographs and facilitate a customized location survey for your project as well as ongoing liaison during the shoot.

Tax breaks/incentives
A variety of incentives are available for both foreign and co-production producers. Detailed information of Tax Credits is available at www.bcfilmcommission.com.

Recent Productions
Over the past few years, we've hosted numerous major feature films and television projects, as well as new media and animation production.

Manitoba

Manitoba Film & Sound
Tel: 204 947 2040 Fax: 204 956 5261
E-mail: explore@mbfilmsound.ca
Website: www.mbfilmsound.mb.ca
Film Commissioner: Carole Vivier

Introduction
As a member of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI), Manitoba Film & Sound is a full-service film commission that offers a broad spectrum of location services.

Tax breaks/incentives
The Manitoba Film & Video Production Tax Credit provides production companies with a 35% tax credit on eligible Manitoba labour expenses. The Tax Credit is a fully refundable corporate income tax credit available to qualifying producers of eligible Manitoba productions and co-productions. The Tax Credit supports production activity by providing producers with another source of financing for their projects. It encourages companies to produce films and videos in Manitoba.

Recent Productions
Trackdown, More than Meets the Eye, The Saddest Music in the World, Defending My Children, The Atwood Stories, The Crooked E, Snow Walker, Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (winner of International Emmy Award for Best Performing Arts Program), The Many Trials of One Jane Doe, The Nature of Nicholas, Leaving Metropolis.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick Film
Tel: 506 869 6868 Fax: 506 869 6840
E-mail: nbfilm@gnb.ca
Website: www.nbfilm.ca
Acting Executive Director: Jon Downey

Introduction
New Brunswick, the largest of Canada's three Maritime Provinces, is located below the Gaspé Peninsula of the Province of Quebec and beside the State of Maine, USA. Shooting in New Brunswick offers many financial and location advantages. We have four defined seasons - winter, spring, summer and fall - each written in dramatic weather against an array of natural beauty. New Brunswick's rich historical architecture and beautiful landscape, include rolling hills, seaside resorts, small towns and modern cities are able to provide any atmosphere a film producer wishes to create.

Permits
No film permits are required. New Brunswick Film Staff can assist you with location scouting, our 40% Labour Tax Credit, access to programs, services and co-producers, working permits, immigration and professional crews.

Tax breaks/incentives
New Brunswick Film Tax Credit

Newfoundland

Newfoundland & Labrador Film Development Corp
Tel: 709 738 3456, 877 738 3456 (toll free) Fax: 709 739 1680
E-mail: info@nlfdc.ca
Website: www.nlfdc.ca
Film Commissioner: Chris Bonnell

Introduction
The mandate of the Newfoundland & Labrador Film Development Corporation is to foster and promote the development and growth of the film and video industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, and to increase the national and international visibility of Newfoundland and Labrador as a location.

Permits
Producers are advised to contact local authorities well in advance of their planned shoot to ensure awareness of and compliance with local regulations. The City of St. John's has developed specific regulations for filming that are administered by its Special Events Committee - depending on the size and the location of the shoot, permits and public notices may be required.

Tax breaks/incentives
The Newfoundland & Labrador Film & Video Industry Tax Credit (FTC) is a fully refundable corporate income tax credit administered by the NLFDC for the Provincial Department of Finance. The program encourages the development, training and hiring of Newfoundland film personnel in all disciplines. The FTC is a provincial corporate tax credit. The tax credit provides incentives to the private film and television production industry to create economic growth in the Province. The credit is based on a calculation of eligible labour, limited to the lesser of 25% of the total eligible budget or 40% of the total eligible labour expenditure. Once the production company's final audited cost report, breaking out the eligible Newfoundland and Labrador labour expenditure, is submitted for review, the Department of Finance may issue a certificate to be filed with the production company's corporate tax return. The credit may also be considered as part of a producer's equity in a given production. At least 25% of the total salaries and wages must be paid in Newfoundland and Labrador to eligible employees.

Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories Film Commission
Tel: 867 920 8793 Fax:867 873 0101
E-mail: nwtfilm@gov.nt.ca
Website: www.iti.gov.nt.ca
Film Commission Coordinator 

Nova Scotia

Film Nova Scotia
Tel: 902 424 7177 Fax: 902 424 0617
E-mail: novascotia.film@ns.sympatico.ca
Website: www.film.ns.ca
Chief Executive Officer: Ann MacKenzie

Introduction
Cities to seascapes to centuries-old villages, Nova Scotia offers state-of-the-art studios and world-class crews, low production overheads and direct flights from the US, Canada and Europe. With 7,400km of shoreline with thousands of bays and inlets, countless sandy beaches and fishing ports reflecting numerous periods, there are endless possibilities. Rugged highlands offering breathtaking panorama, and dazzling lakes and streams, agricultural valleys and orchards, as well as old growth forests fill the Nova Scotia landscape.

Permits
Human Resources Development Canada Foreign Worker Program Tel: (902) 426 8229.

Tax breaks/incentives
Nova Scotia Film Industry Tax Credit. Development Loans and equity investments for co-productions.

Recent Productions
Martha Inc: The Story of Martha Stewart, A Hole in One, The Shipping News, K19: The Widowmaker, A Town Without Christmas, Virginia's Run, Wise Girls, Phase IV, The Pilot's Wife, My Little Eye.

Nunavut

Nunavut Film
Tel: 867 979 3012 Fax: 867 979 3013
E-mail: info@nunavutfilm.ca
Website: www.nunavutfilm.ca
 George Ritter

Ontario

Ontario Media Development Corp
Tel: 416 314 6858 Fax: 416 314 6876
E-mail: mail@omdc.on.ca
Website: www.omdc.on.ca
President & CEO: Karen Thorne-Stone

Introduction
The Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) is an agency of the Ontario government that provides a range of innovative programs and services to stimulate the growth of Ontario's film, television, book and magazine publishing, sound recording and digital media industries.

Permits
Please contact: Toronto Film & Television Office. Tel: (416) 392 7570. Fax: (416) 392 0675. Email: info@torontofilmpermits.com

Tax breaks/incentives
The Tax Credits department administers the Ontario government's film, television, digital media, book publishing and sound recording tax credit programs. These are refundable tax credits available to Ontario-based corporations. The credits are calculated on a percentage of the qualified labour and other qualifying expenditures for cultural products produced in the province. Currently the tax credits available include the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit; the Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit; the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit; the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit; the Ontario Sound Recording Tax Credit; and the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit. For details and guidelines go to: www.omdc.on.ca.

Quebec

Québec Film & TV Council
Tel: 514 499 7070, 866 320 3456 (toll free) Fax: 514 499 7018
E-mail: info@qftc.ca
Website: www.qftc.ca
Film Commissioner: Hans Fraikin

Introduction
The largest Canadian Province, three times larger than France. St Lawrence River - historical water route into N America, an extensive territory that offers rich choice of scenery from Montreal to frozen Arctic North.

Permits
There are five film commissions in the Province, all providing production permits.

Saskatchewan

SaskFilm & Video Development Corp
Tel: 306 798 9800 Fax: 306 798 7768
E-mail: general@saskfilm.com
Website: www.saskfilm.com
Film Commissioner: Susanne Bell

Introduction
Saskatchewan covers 651,900 square kilometres - more than a quarter of a million square miles of rolling hills, boreal forest, rapids and lakes, sand hills, valleys, cities, western and ghost towns. The earth meets the sky in the breadbasket of the world and surrounds you with fields of golden wheat, brilliant yellow canola, and pastel blue flax. The magic is in our sunsets, which turn the limitless horizon a brilliant pink and purple. Spectacular thunderclouds and lightening storms, black skies with thousands of stars and harvest moons make up Saskatchewan's famous sky.

Permits
SaskFilm assists production companies in organising any necessary authorisation to film in the Province, liaising with both government and municipal departments to facilitate location shooting and ensure that employment and safety standards are met.

Tax breaks/incentives
The Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit (SFETC).

Yukon

Yukon Film & Sound Commission
Tel: 867 667 5400, 800 661 0408 ext. 5400 (toll free) Fax: 867 393 7040
E-mail: info@reelyukon.com
Website: www.reelyukon.com
 Barbara Dunlop

Introduction
A place where nature works on a larger scale, where vast icefields reproduce Antarctica and living towns look like sets. We are most sought after by filmmakers seeking reliable snow locations. Here you can find winter on your schedule (now there's an appealing thought). But the Yukon is much more than snow locations - you'll find it adaptable, diverse and full of character, not to mention picture perfect. Think "Yukon" when you consider locations for your next production. The film and video companies that have come to the Yukon discovered a place where locations transcended their imaginations. Add to this the fact that we are accessible, with daily air service from Alaska and Vancouver, and an extensive system of roads and highways that will take you to unbelievable landscapes and eclectic towns. So if you're looking for something special, start looking at the Yukon, and you too, can discover this picture-perfect land.

Permits
Film location permits are not required in most areas of the Yukon.

Tax breaks/incentives
We are offering these financial incentives to eligible productions: The Travel Rebate can assist your production in the cost of getting here. The Yukon Labour Rebate can refund up to 35% of wages paid for eligible Yukon labour on your production. For further information check our website http://www.reelyukon.com/incentive/home.html.

General Information

Location: North America
Local Time: Atlantic (areas observing DST) & Labrador:
From 09 Mar 08 to 02 Nov 08 GMT -3
From 02 Nov 08 to 08 Mar 09 GMT -4
From 08 Mar 09 to 01 Nov 09 GMT -3
Atlantic (areas not observing DST): GMT -4
Central (except Saskatchewan):
From 09 Mar 08 to 02 Nov 08 GMT -5
From 02 Nov 08 to 08 Mar 09 GMT -6
From 08 Mar 09 to 01 Nov 09 GMT -5
Central (Saskatchewan): GMT -6
Eastern (areas observing DST):
From 09 Mar 08 to 02 Nov 08 GMT -4
From 02 Nov 08 to 08 Mar 09 GMT -5
From 08 Mar 09 to 01 Nov 09 GMT -4
Eastern (areas not observing DST): GMT -5
Mountain (areas observing DST):
From 09 Mar 08 to 02 Nov 08 GMT -6
From 02 Nov 08 to 08 Mar 09 GMT -7
From 08 Mar 09 to 01 Nov 09 GMT -6
Mountain (areas not observing DST): GMT -7
Newfoundland (excluding Labrador):
From 09 Mar 08 to 02 Nov 08 GMT -2
From 02 Nov 08 to 08 Mar 09 GMT -3
From 08 Mar 09 to 01 Nov 09 GMT -2
Pacific:
From 09 Mar 08 to 02 Nov 08 GMT -7
From 02 Nov 08 to 08 Mar 09 GMT -8
From 08 Mar 09 to 01 Nov 09 GMT -7
Capital City: Ottawa
Population: 32 million
Area: 9,984,670 square km, 3,851,790 square miles.
Language(s): English, French
Dialling Code: 1
Emergency: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 911
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard: NTSC
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence required. International Driving Permit recommended
Electricity: 110V AC 60Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD 1 = 100 Cents)
Notes: CAD: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000
Coins: CAD: 1, 2. Cents: 1, 5, 10, 25

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Major credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted in Canadian or US currency only

Opening Hours
Bank: 1000-1500 Mon-Fri (most banks open 0800-2100 Thur)
Office: 0900-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0900-1800 Mon-Fri (most open Sat, some on Sun, most main shops open until 2100 Thur-Fri)

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Mar 21-24 Easter, May 19 Victoria Day, Jul 1 Canada Day, Sep 3 Labour Day, Oct 13 Thanksgiving Day, Nov 11 Remembrance Day, Dec 25 Christmas Day, Dec 26 Boxing Day
Holidays falling on Sun are observed the following Mon
Various provincial/territorial based holidays are also observed

Business/Social Hints: Business in the English speaking provinces is conducted in English, in the French speaking ones in French. Smoking in public places is now illegal in some parts, including bars. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants or clubs, punctuality is appreciated. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is as follows: Alberta, Manitoba & Quebec (18 years), British Colombia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Nova Scotia (19 years)

Tipping: Around 15% in restaurants & for taxis

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: None, however check travellers have up to date tetanus & polio immunisations.

Risks:

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Restrictions: Any passport, identity or travel document purporting to be issued by Somalia, Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, Venda or the All Palestine Government are not valid for entry into Canada

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: 1) Passports must be valid for at least one day beyond intended departure
2) Persons under 18 years of age who are not accompanied by their parents or legal guardian(s), or by just one parent or legal guardian, should have a letter of consent from the non-accompanying parent(s) or legal guardian(s), giving them permission to travel alone or with a representative or relative. Children travelling by themselves must have their own passports; they cannot use the passport of their parents even if their details are endorsed in that passport

Passport Notes: New supplemental form now required for all visa applications in addition to the visa application form

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Citizens of Canada
2) British Citizens, British National Overseas Citizens & British dependent Territories Citizens who are re-admissible to the United Kingdom (does not apply to UK Passport holders where the passport is endorsed "British Subject", who need a visa)
3) Citizens of British Dependent Territories who derive their citizenship through birth, descent, registration or naturalization in one of the British dependent territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena or Turks & Caicos Islands
4) Citizens of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (S.A.R. passport holders only), Iceland, Ireland Rep, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden & Switzerland
5) Citizens of United States & persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green Card)
6) Holders of passports or travel documents issued by the Vatican City

Notes: Visitors must depart Canada within 6 months from the date of arrival, unless otherwise indicated upon arrival. Extensions to this period must be obtained by submitting an application to the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons who are in transit through Canada on a flight stopping solely for the purpose of refuelling and:
a) are in possession of a valid visa to enter the United States on a flight bound for the United States, or
b) have been lawfully admitted to the United States and are on a flight originating from the United States

Exit Permits

Special Notes

All visitors must hold onward/return tickets, documents required for next destination & sufficient funds for length of stay

Climate

Canada's climate can generally be divided into five main areas:
Canadian Prairies; run from the Rocky Mountains to western shores of Lake Superior & southern parts of Alberta, Manitoba & Saskatchewan. Summers here are short, warm & showery. Winters are cold with freezing winds but not much snow. Calgary & Edmonton are slightly warmer during winter than Winnipeg
Eastern Canada; including Newfoundland, Labrador Coast, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island & Nova Scotia, has changeable summers & cold winters, conditions can change suddenly from day to day, rain & cloud never far away throughout the year. Summers are generally bright, although sea fogs are common. Winter months have snow & only a few hours of sunshine a day
Northern Canada; including northern British Colombia, Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan & Yukon. This area is essentially uninhabitable due to its extreme winter weather. The land is snow covered for most of the year, with a very short summer period which is changeable & accompanied by cold winds which can bring sudden frost & snow
Southern Canada; including Ontario & Quebec which border the Great Lakes. Summers here are the sunniest & warmest in Canada, however summer storms can bring unsettled, wet & cold conditions. Winters are harsh, the lakes freeze from Dec-Mar but surprisingly there may also be mild spells even in the middle of winter
Western Canada; including southern British Columbia, western Alberta & Canadian Rockies, is a mountainous region with a Pacific Ocean coastline. Coastal areas have warm, sunny summers & mild winters, albeit considerably wet, foggy & changeable. Coastal mountains are particularly wet, much rain falls as snow. Inland areas tend to be protected from the worst weather & are generally drier, although this is offset by freezing temperatures during winter

Clothing

Canadian Prairies; Light clothes with warmer wear for summer, extra warm thermals for winter
Eastern Canada; Reasonably warm clothes in summer, thermals for winter, rainwear at any time
Northern Canada; Fairly heavy clothes for summer, extra heavy thermals for winter
Southern Canada; Lights clothes with warmer wear for summer, thermals for winter, rainwear at any time
Western Canada; lighter clothes with warmer wear for summer. Reasonably warm clothes for winters in costal area, thermals for visiting inland or mountain areas. Rainwear especially during winter

Charts for Halifax (Nova Scotia)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 0 -1 3 8 15 20 23 23 19 14 8 2 Min Temp (C) -9 -9 -5 -1 4 9 13 13 10 5 0 -6 Humidity am (%) 82 81 77 76 76 77 81 82 82 82 84 80 Humidity pm (%) 69 63 60 60 62 63 64 65 65 63 71 68 Rainfall (mm) 137 109 125 114 104 102 97 112 104 137 135 137

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Charts for Toronto (Ontario)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) -1 -1 3 10 17 23 26 25 21 13 6 1 Min Temp (C) -9 -9 -5 1 7 12 15 14 11 4 -1 -6 Humidity am (%) 78 78 76 74 73 78 79 83 87 87 82 80 Humidity pm (%) 70 67 62 56 55 58 56 58 60 62 68 71 Rainfall (mm) 69 61 66 64 74 69 74 69 74 61 71 66

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Charts for Vancouver (British Columbia)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 5 7 10 14 18 21 23 23 18 14 9 6 Min Temp (C) 0 1 3 4 8 11 12 12 9 7 4 2 Humidity am (%) 93 91 91 89 88 87 89 90 92 92 91 91 Humidity pm (%) 85 78 70 67 63 65 62 62 72 80 84 88 Rainfall (mm) 218 147 127 84 71 64 31 43 91 147 211 224

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Visit Canada
P.O. Box 170
Ashford, Kent, TN24 0ZX
tel: +44 0906 871 5000*
e-mail: visitcanada@dial.pipex.com
website: www.travelcanada.ca
* calls cost 60p per minute

Embassy
High Commission of Canada
Immigration & visa section
38 Grosvenor Street
London, W1K 4AA
tel: +44 20 7258 6699
fax: +44 20 7258 6506
website: www.canada.org.uk
hours: 0800-1100 (Mon-Fri)