ONTARIO’S MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY IS READY TO ROLL!
The information noted below is designed to assist the Film and TV sector with questions related to the framework for reopening Ontario’s film industry and Ontario Creates’ efforts to assist producers with business continuity. As news is released, we will endeavour to provide relevant and timely updates on this page. Please check back on a regular basis for more information. Please note that new information on this page is identified by the pre-expanded FAQ’s below.
The Ontario Film Commission is here to assist you and can be reached at filmcommission@ontariocreates.ca for further questions.
ONTARIO’S FRAMEWORK FOR REOPENING THE FILM INDUSTRY
Commercial film and television production, including all supporting activities such as hair, makeup and wardrobe, is allowed in the Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, and Grey Zones of Ontario’s Reponses Framework if productions meet the following conditions:
- The set must be configured and operated in such a way as to enable persons on the set to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from other persons, except where necessary for the filming of the film or television production.
- No studio audiences may be permitted to be on the film or television set.
- Persons who provide hair or makeup services must wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
- Singers and players of brass or wind instruments must be separated from any other performers by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier.
- The person responsible for a film and television production must ensure that the film or television production operates in accordance with the guidance document entitled Film and television industry health and safety during COVID-19 issued by the Film and Television Health and Safety Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.
In the Shutdown Zone, productions must also meet the following condition in order to be allowed to open:
- No more than 50 performers may be permitted on set.
The regulations also provide greater certainty on the following points:
- Film or television sets may be located in any business or place, including any business or place that is otherwise required to be closed under the Stage 1, 2 and 3 orders.
- The Q&As clarify that performers who are not actively performing may be located in holding areas (e.g., trailers, hair and makeup areas, etc.) and would not be considered to count as part of the 50-performer limit.
*Please see associated Q&As for more information about the updates made on February 10, 2021.
The province also recommends that face coverings be used for indoor and/or outdoor gatherings if you can’t safely distance from others.
For work environments that are clearly separated from public spaces, the Section 21 Health and Safety guidelines outlines the recommendations for the use of face coverings at work, click here for more information.
Pharmacies do have a process in place to support bookings for those who do not have a health card- this information is shared in this public document with all the pharmacies: Executive Officer Notice: Administration of Publicly Funded COVID-19 Vaccines in Ontario Pharmacies – Billing (gov.on.ca). Pages 5 – 7 specify that Ontario health cards are not required. If a patient does not have a valid Ontario health card number, a pharmacist can still administer the publicly funded COVID-19 vaccine, provided that the patient provides an alternate identification confirming their name and date of birth.
HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDANCE
The guidelines were created by the Section 21 Film and Television Health and Safety Advisory Committee, a public and private advisory body to MLTSD, pursuant to Section 21 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). The committee advises on Safety Guidelines for the Film and Television Industry in Ontario which are meant to assist employers/producers, supervisors and cast and crew in the industry in determining ways to best comply with their obligations as set out under the OHSA.
Committee representatives include experienced advisors, both domestic and foreign, from all aspects of the motion picture industry. The committee is comprised of unions, guilds, producers associations and municipal and provincial government representatives representing film, television and commercial production. These entities have worked hand-in-hand with MLTSD throughout the drafting process.
The guidelines offer non-prescriptive and scalable protocols, providing productions of any size with a foundation for safe return to work protocols. The guidelines contain general and department specific recommendations and resources. Each production will need to determine their own specific implementation plan and have this in places of employment.
The guidelines have been hosted on www.filmsafety.ca. For general COVID-19 compliance questions, please contact Ontario’s Health and Safety Contact Centre at webOHS@ontario.ca.
Full document available here (updated January 25, 2021): FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY HEALTH AND SAFETY DURING COVID-19 (PDF)
The provincial government does not require health and safety guidelines to be submitted by employers. Regional and municipal film offices may ask for production companies to indicate that they have a plan as part of the location permitting process, but they will not be required to submit documentation to acquire a film permit.
All companies operating in Ontario are required to have a COVID-19 plan in place for their production.
WATCH: “WE ARE PRODUCTIONS” FEATURING PAUL SUN-HYUNG LEE
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES
The Ministry of Health has allowed licensed private community laboratory providers to conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Film and television productions who wish to arrange their own private testing regime should contact a private, licensed clinical laboratory authorized to perform this testing. Please see this letter of approval for more details.
The following laboratories are licensed for private testing:
| Community Lab | Contact Information |
| Alpha Laboratories Inc. | gerard.kennedy@alphalaboratories.ca |
| LifeLabs | Charles.Brown@lifelabs.com |
| Dynacare | McCulloughL@dynacare.ca |
Licensing and accreditation are both necessary to ensure laboratories and collection centres are operating in a quality and competent manner according to international standards. This ensures results are accurate and reliable and the testing process is safe to the public.
Certain regulated health professionals (physicians, in this case) may collect a specimen or conduct a test without being licensed as a specimen collection centre or a laboratory because they are exempt from the licensing requirements of the LSCCLA. The oversight of these activities undertaken by a regulated health professional would be with their respective regulatory colleges (e.g. CPSO for physicians).
Specimens must be collected by a licensed specimen collection centre in Ontario, or by a health professional authorized to collect specimens without a licence under the LSCCLA. The specimens are then sent to a licensed Ontario laboratory, which may send the specimens out of country for processing.
The licensed Ontario laboratory is responsible for meeting necessary legislative and regulatory requirements under the LSCCLA, Health Protection and Promotion Act, Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004, Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, and all other applicable legislation.
Certain regulated health professionals (physicians, in this case) may collect a specimen or send it out of province or out of country for testing. In this scenario, the physician is responsible for meeting necessary legislative and regulatory requirements listed above.
The Ministry of Health is working to ensure access to COVID-19 specimen collection and testing for symptomatic and at-risk asymptomatic persons as part of its COVID-19 testing strategy. Any lab interested in becoming licensed in Ontario send inquiries to LaboratoryLicensing@ontario.ca.
Ontario is working to ensure that all tests are processed in a timely manner. In the event that the demand for testing exceeds capacity, publicly funded testing for symptomatic and at-risk persons will be prioritized.
TRAVEL AND BORDERS
Yes, film workers are eligible to enter Canada under the Immigration Mobility Program. Individuals who are able to enter Ontario must quarantine for 14 days. Toronto Pearson is one of four airports country-wide that is accepting passenger flights from international locations. Please visit Health Canada for a full list of traveler requirements and considerations, including important details about shot-term mandatory lodging in government-authorized hotels and testing requirements for those arriving by air.
Measures in place for foreign nationals in the film and television industry
GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS AND MITIGATION EFFORTS
Ontario Production Services Tax Credit Calculation Tool
Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit Calculation Tool
- File reviews will not be held up if the administration fee has not yet been received. As cheques cannot be processed at this time, applicants are requested to register for e-payment here: electronic payment.
- Where electronic payment is not possible and file reviews are complete, Certificates of Eligibility will be issued subject to applicants acknowledging, in writing, their obligation to pay the outstanding administration fee. Subsequent applications (submitted after return to normal business) from the company and their associated companies will not be processed until the outstanding administration fees are paid.
- Refunds of tax credit administration fees will only be available by electronic payment.
- Certificates cannot be picked up at this time. Applicants and CRA will be notified electronically when certificates are issued, including the certificate number for reference. Physical certificates will be available upon return to normal business.
- Applicants are asked to upload video/sample production content for film and television credits or the digital version of a book for the OBPTC, instead of providing physical copies where it is an eligibility requirement. Where this is not possible because of size restrictions (limit of 35-40MB), certificates will not be withheld; the content should be delivered upon return to normal business.
- Where possible, Tax Credit business processes have been temporarily modified to streamline reviews and fast-track certifications.
- The Canada Revenue Agency has also implemented strategies to expedite the review of Film & Media tax credit applications which have been certified by Ontario Creates.
- General Tax Credit enquiries should be sent to taxcredits@ontariocreates.ca
Flexibility on delivery dates will be provided where events, projects or initiatives must be postponed due to COVID-19. In all cases, please contact your Ontario Creates program consultant to discuss the specifics of your circumstances and contract deliverables. Flexibility and leniency will be provided to the extent possible.
STUDIO SPACE AND LOCATIONS
Anticipating the need for controllable production environments, the Ontario Film Commission has worked with public and private partners to identify new studio space and locations that will align with new production models. Facilities that have opened since production went on hiatus are highlighted.
Our consultants have combed through our Location Library for locations across the province that offer a large footprint to producers. These are just a handful of the 9,000 locations in our Location Library. Our production consultants are on standby to receive your scouting requests. Please email locations@ontariocreates.ca for assistance.
Large Controllable Spaces Part 1
Large Controllable Spaces Part 2
Large Controllable Spaces Part 3
Ontario’s Studio List (.XLSX Excel spreadsheet download) contains over 3,088,589 sq. ft of square feet, with over 235,000 ft. of stage space coming online during hiatus. Nearly 1,000,000 sq. ft. is scheduled to come online over the next two years.
Please return to this webpage for more information about new film friendly municipal, regional and provincial locations.
ONTARIO’S FILM WORKERS
DGC ONTARIO
IATSE 667
NABET 700 M-UNIFOR
ACTRA TORONTO
Extensive databases of the provinces diverse and special skills performers.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING RESOURCES
In partnership with the Ottawa Film Office, the Ontario Film Commission has worked with Ontario’s unions, guild and associations to identify nearly 200 professional development opportunities, health and well-being resources, and live streaming webinars for Ontario’s film workers. Please visit our Learning Hub for more information.
