Sask. film crews are used to hearing ‘Cuts’ – Both on set and in the budget

When you walk onto a movie set, you’ll most likely hear the word “cut.”

But, when it comes to Creative Saskatchewan’s Feature Film and Television Production Grant, the real cut came from the provincial budget, not from a director’s command on set.

The grant, which previously sat at $12 million, saw a $2 million decrease in the Government of Saskatchewan’s 2025-26 budget, which was tabled on Wednesday.

In 2012, the province completely scrapped the film tax credit, a move that significantly damaged the industry — A tax credit that started in 1988.

In 2020, a petition to bring awareness to the idea of reinstating the film tax credit was made, garnering just under 5,000 signatures.

In the 2022 budget, the provincial government provided an $8-million increase to the Creative Saskatchewan film production grant, hiking it from $2 million to $10 million. Another $7.5 million was added in October.

Read More:

• ‘Dumpster fire’: Sask. provincial budget draws mixed reactions
• Saskatchewan to join U.S. states, Alberta in energy security coalition
• Police monitor violent sex offender in Regina’s Heritage area

The March 19, 2025, budget decision was linked to the uncertainty around tariffs from the U.S.A. and China, according to Saskatchewan’s Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport, Alana Ross.

“We are potentially facing some significant challenges in the future,” Ross explained. “We needed to be fiscally responsible within our own ministry.”

Recently, Season 10 of The History Channel’s series “Alone” was filmed at Reindeer Lake in northern Saskatchewan.

Additionally, Saskatchewan’s film impact extends beyond the province, with “Corner Gas”, a classic Canadian sitcom that first aired on January 22, 2004, becoming an instant hit and gaining popularity in 60 countries.

Ross said the provincial government isn’t abandoning the film industry, which they say is thriving and believe it will continue to grow.

“They are this year receiving $10 million, which is very significant,” she said. “In discussions with Creative Saskatchewan and with SMPIA (the Saskatchewan Media Production Industry Association), they are very comfortable with the amount that our government is funding.”

In a news release, the association said while the reduction to grant is disappointing, it’s not as dire as it sounds and isn’t the end of the film industry.

SMPIA called the reduction a small setback as it continues to prepare for what it anticipates will be one of the busiest production seasons it has seen in years.

The provincial government also made a $300,000 investment to improve the John Hopkins Regina Soundstage.

Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association Reaction

The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) is pleased with the 2025-26 provincial budget.

Randy Goulden, President of SUMA, said seeing the 6.3 per cent increase in municipal revenue sharing is a big win.

“The $361 million that comes to our municipalities across the province is an essential part of our municipal budgets,” she said.

“We cannot by legislation deficit fund, so when we sit down to do our budgeting, having predictable and sustainable funding is absolutely critical.”

SUMA advocates for Saskatchewan communities. Recently, they were calling for better, more effective bylaw enforcement and adjudication in towns like Allan, who was dealing with a dog problem.

“Things like policing, like infrastructure, like recreation, like fire protection,” said Goulden. “Those are the kind of things that the municipal revenue sharing assists with and is a part of.”

SUMA also has some concerns regarding the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency budget, which remained at $12.3 million.

Gouland said the assessment helps municipalities determine their tax revenue.

“With inflation right now, there’s going to be some deficits that municipalities are going to have to pick up.”

“That’s how we do the property tax, but it also impacts education tax,” she said. “Transit to people with disabilities stayed the same and the community airport assessment stayed the same.”

Canadian Federation of Independent Business Reaction

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) would’ve liked to see more relief for small businesses.

Brianna Solberg, director of provincial affairs for CFIB, said the group had been calling for stability and predictability.

“To some extent we did see that, there’s no new tax increases for small businesses,” she said.

“It’s a bit concerning that this budget doesn’t include any plan to offset the impact of tariffs, should it come to that.”

Solberg said CFIB is forever grateful that the small business tax rate has been frozen at one per cent, but added that more may be needed down the road.

“Some further affordability measures would’ve gone a long way,” she said.

“We have been calling for the removal of the PST (Provincial Sales Tax) on capital expenditures from machinery and equipment, to help promote investment at this time.”

Solberg added they are hearing some concerns.

“Business owners are telling us that they face more uncertainty and more unpredictability than even at the height of the pandemic,” she said.

“This is quite serious and I don’t know if this budget fully addresses the severity of the situation.”

Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association

Cara Werner, with the Southeast Saskatchewan Directors Association, called the budget disappointing.

“We weren’t even mentioned in it, which was really frustrating,” she said. “They had veterinarians in there, they had education, but they conveniently forgot early child care education.”

She’s with a branch of the Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association, which helps teachers and caregivers take care of and teach young children.

Werner said she was hoping to see a little bit of funding for early childhood education. Her association in the southeast operates 25 daycare centres, using mostly grants to fund them.

Saskatchewan was out nearly on its own on Feb. 27, 2025, when the federal government announced agreements to extend the Early Learning and Child Care program, which provides for $10-a-day daycare. The current agreements expire on March 31, 2026, and each province negotiates its own agreement, 13 of which have already been signed.

“I was hoping that they would make an announcement…that they were going to sign the agreement with the feds,” she said. “We just haven’t seen any of that happen.”

As of March 21, the provincial government has not signed the federal agreement on $10-a-day daycare.

“We’re hoping to make a push to get them to sign it,” Werner said. “We need funding, there are certainly things that could change about the sector and things that we want to improve on.”

“We need to secure that funding and make sure that we have some security for families and children.”