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Writers Guild Of Canada & CMPA Reach Production Agreement
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There won't be a strike in Canada after all. The Writers Guild of
Canada (WGC) and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) have
reached an agreement in principle on terms for a new Independent
Production Agreement (IPA).
The pair jointly announced they had successfully concluded
negotiations and reached terms on a three-year IPA. The agreement,
details of which will emerge over coming hours and days, covers terms,
conditions and rates for writers, story editors and story consultants.
This comes after Deadline last week revealed talks had resumed amid an
increasingly nervous industry environment following news the WGC had
for the first time in its history approved strike action. Our sources
said the approval was being seen as a last-ditch ploy to bring the
CMPA back to the table and hash out a deal. Looks like it worked.
The terms of the IPA will now be sent to the CMPA's board of directors
and distributed by the WGC for ratification among its members. The
previous agreement had ended on December 31, 2023, replaced by an
interim pact while a new long-term deal was negotiated. Before this
most recent round of talks began, we understand the negotiating table
had remained empty since February.
"We are proud to have come to terms on an agreement that truly values
the important alliance that exists between Canadian screenwriters and
independent producers," said Sean Porter, the CMPA's Vice-President of
National Industrial Relations and Counsel. "I want to thank the
individuals on both sides of the bargaining table for their commitment
to finding solutions that serve to benefit the future of our sector
and Canadian storytelling on screen."
"We are pleased to have reached a fair agreement with the CMPA that
will protect the livelihoods of our screenwriter members and maintain
stability in the Canadian film and television industry," said Victoria
Shen, WGC Executive Director. "We feel the new agreement includes
important protections for Canadian screenwriters and balances the
concerns of our producer partners."
The agreement avoids a writers strike, which would have been most
unusual for Canada but was beginning to appear the most likely
outcome. Some within Canada's writers community felt the CMPA wasn't
negotiating in good faith, while many producers felt the terms
demanded were unrealistic and unreasonable. Issues such as AI,
remuneration for animation scribes and the number of writers on sets
were among the most concerning to writers, sources told us.
Writers and actors strikes paralyzed the U.S. industry last year, and
it was unknown how brutal action would be the smaller, more fragile
Canadian market. However, writers were ready to test the waters, with
96.5% of those who voted on strike authorization being in favor, come
what may. One source we spoke to last week said the volume of the
'yes' vote had surprised the CMPA, demonstrating "a determination to
stand firm in our commitment to achieving a fair deal for
screenwriters."
Different to the U.S. is the fact that the CMPA does not represent
broadcasters or streamers in the way the AMPTP did in its talks with
the American writers and actors unions.
Canada's production sector remains in flux, with networks impacted
hard by ad downturns and the recent introduction of the Online
Streaming Act resulting in streamers reticent to commission new films
and shows. However, today's news is a major relief for an industry
that didn't need any more bumps.
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