B.C. film industry gives HST two thumbs up

The B.C. film industry is giving the thumbs up to the harmonized sales tax, saying it's saving producers money and helping preserve jobs.

Peter Leitch, chair of the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of B.C., says under the HST taxes will generally fall seven per cent for many businesses involved in movie and TV production.

He says that will make the province more competitive and help attract more productions and jobs to B.C.

Leitch says the industry employs 20,000 people directly in B.C. and another 15,000 indirectly.

The industry association says 239 movies were shot in B.C. last year, generating more than $1.3 billion in production spending.

While the movie industry is backing the HST, B.C. restraurant operators released figures recently showing the tax is taking a big bite out of their business.

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  Peter Leitch, President of North Shore Studios and Mammoth Studios and chair of the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of British Columbia, speaks during a pro-HST news conference at North Shore Studios in North Vancouver, B.C. on Thursday, August 5, 2010. (CP/Darryl Dyck)

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  Peter Leitch, President of North Shore Studios and Mammoth Studios and chair of the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of British Columbia, looks on during a pro-HST news conference at North Shore Studios in North Vancouver, B.C. on Thursday, August 5, 2010. (CP/Darryl Dyck)

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  The B.C. film industry is giving the thumbs up to the harmonized sales tax, saying it's saving producers money and helping preserve jobs. Aug. 5, 2010. (CTV)