north

Saturday November 14, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday November 14, 2015 HamiltonÕs film explosion Ôbeyond manageableÕ The director of Tourism Hamilton says film production in Hamilton has been exploding and the city needs to do a complete review of how the industry is being managed. Susan Monarch says the combination of a low Canadian dollar and provincial tax incentives to schedule film shoots outside of the Greater Toronto Area has led to a deluge of movie shoots in Hamilton. That has caused all kinds obstructed streets and aggravation to people and businesses. "In September, there were 18 productions on downtown streets. That is beyond manageable. We need to look at this," said Monarch. In 2014, the number of productions filmed in the city shot up to 100 from 75 the year before. So far this year, there have been 84, showing the city is in line to likely surpass last year's totals. "It has become a major industry. We need to sit back and look at what are we doing as a community," Monarch said. On the table are big hikes in film permit fees, currently only $29, but also increases in parking charges and rental fees for city-owned facilities. Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Green, the chair of the BIA advisory committee, says: "We have now attracted this incredible industry to the city but the fees don't reflect the impact it has in the community." He believes the city needs to create a graduated scale of fees based on the size of the production. Increasing the revenue stream for the city would go some distance in recouping administrative costs of the city's film office, which looks after applications from production companies. As well, Monarch said the film application process needs to be updated with greater oversight to make sure film companies live up to their obligations. City staff will look into the issue and produce a report for councillors. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6116024-hamilton-s-film-explosion-beyond-manageable-/ Ham

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday November 14, 2015

Hamilton’s film explosion ‘beyond manageable’

The director of Tourism Hamilton says film production in Hamilton has been exploding and the city needs to do a complete review of how the industry is being managed.

Susan Monarch says the combination of a low Canadian dollar and provincial tax incentives to schedule film shoots outside of the Greater Toronto Area has led to a deluge of movie shoots in Hamilton. That has caused all kinds obstructed streets and aggravation to people and businesses.

“In September, there were 18 productions on downtown streets. That is beyond manageable. We need to look at this,” said Monarch.

In 2014, the number of productions filmed in the city shot up to 100 from 75 the year before. So far this year, there have been 84, showing the city is in line to likely surpass last year’s totals.

“It has become a major industry. We need to sit back and look at what are we doing as a community,” Monarch said.

On the table are big hikes in film permit fees, currently only $29, but also increases in parking charges and rental fees for city-owned facilities.

Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Green, the chair of the BIA advisory committee, says: “We have now attracted this incredible industry to the city but the fees don’t reflect the impact it has in the community.”

He believes the city needs to create a graduated scale of fees based on the size of the production. Increasing the revenue stream for the city would go some distance in recouping administrative costs of the city’s film office, which looks after applications from production companies.

As well, Monarch said the film application process needs to be updated with greater oversight to make sure film companies live up to their obligations.

City staff will look into the issue and produce a report for councillors. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

From the MailBag

The ultimate Hollywood North Destination by Peter E. Evanetz

The ultimate Hollywood North Destination by Peter E. Evanetz

Friday December 18, 2009

December 18, 2009

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday December 18, 2009

Fight to control Copenhagen climate change fund

The deadlock over who should cut carbon emissions and by how much may be dominating the headlines here in Copenhagen but behind the scenes an equally big issue is being thrashed out. It’s a fight for control of the massive new fund that will challenge our changing climate.

So far there has been no agreement regarding how this money should be managed and where it should be channelled as negotiating bodies from the developed and developing worlds hold fast to their polarised positions.

“So far, we have no agreement on the new climate fund or the body that will oversee it” Jukka Uosukainen, a co-facilitator representing the developed countries in the financial negotiations told the BBC.

“But if we have an overall agreement in this summit, I think we can still reach into an agreement.”

US negotiators are backing the idea of a new climate fund which, insiders say, would have the Washington-based World Bank as its trustee.

However, the developing world groupings at Copenhagen want a new body to control the fund which would be under the direct control of the Conference of Parties. The COP brings together all 192 countries that have signed the United Nations Convention Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (Source: BBC News) 

 

Friday January 27, 2006

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday January 27, 2006

Harper Tells U.S. to Drop Arctic Claim

Stephen Harper, elected Monday as prime minister, warned the United States on Thursday to back off from its challenge of Canadian sovereignty in Arctic waters that are fast thawing from global warming.

In the first news conference since his election, Harper upbraided the U.S. ambassador for asserting that the icy polar regions, including the legendary Northwest Passage, are international waters.

Canada claims that its archipelago of some 16,000 islands makes that region Canadian territory.

“The United States defends its sovereignty. The Canadian government will defend our sovereignty,” Harper said. “It’s the Canadian people we get our mandate from, not the ambassador of the United States.”

The two countries — as well as Russia — have had conflicting claims in the Arctic for at least three decades. Harper’s Conservative Party has proposed expanding Canada’s military presence, building new icebreakers and creating an early warning system to detect other ships, all to enforce its claim of sovereignty. (Source: Washington Post)