A discussion among mayoral candidates on how to boost the city’s film, TV and gaming industries was upstaged Wednesday by one candidate who didn’t show up and another who was furious she wasn’t invited.
Organized by Film Ontario, a private-sector consortium representing Ontario’s screen-based sector, the event took place at the Screen Industries Research and Training Centre downtown and asked the leading mayoral candidates what they would do to support the industry in Toronto.
John Tory, Olivia Chow and David Soknacki attended the event.
Mayor Rob Ford’s campaign staff told organizers Saturday that he would not attend and the mayor instead used the morning to launch his transit plan.
Shortly after the private event got underway, another mayoral candidate who spells her name D!onne Renee, showed up and demanded to be included, arguing that she’s both a mayoral candidate and a part of the industry. She was escorted out by security a short time later.
When the debate eventually got underway, the candidates discussed what could be done to make sure Toronto remains a film-friendly city.
Tory said he would “fight to the death” to support tax credits for the industry and said supporting them is “an absolute business no-brainer” as it brings in large returns.
Chow said she’d like to see a plan that aims to boost the city’s economy in all sectors, including film, TV and gaming. She added that she would boost arts funding from $23 per capita to $25 per capita if elected.
Chow and Soknacki also talked about increasing the number of staff at the Toronto Film and Television Office.
Speaking with CP24 after the debate, moderator Jonathan Barker said he was pleased with the discussion.
“They were uniformly in support of how important this industry is to our city and how much we have to do to stimulate it, to protect it because it’s an economic driver for the city. So I would say everyone did very well,” Barker said.
The event comes a day ahead of the opening of the Toronto International Film Festival, a signature cultural and entertainment event for Toronto.
According to Film Ontario, film, TV and gaming represent a $2.5 billion industry in the province, employing some 30,000 people.
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