Statement by Minister Joly on Reinforcing Cultural Ties between Canada and the Belgian Communities

The Government of Canada and the Belgian Communities sign an audiovisual coproduction Memorandum of Understanding

OTTAWA, March 13, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada recognizes that Canada's creative industries represent a key sector of our economy. Supporting Canadian creators and cultural industries contributes to inclusive growth, creates jobs, and strengthens our middle class while helping those who are working hard to join it.

I am very pleased that the Government of Canada has signed an audiovisual coproduction Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Belgian Communities. This MOU will further position Canada as a partner of choice in audiovisual coproductions, and strengthen our cultural and economic ties with the Belgian Communities.

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, signed the MOU with His Excellency Geert Bourgeois, Minister-President of the Government of Flanders; His Excellency Rudy Demotte, Minister-President of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation Government; and His Excellency Oliver Paasch, Minister-President of the German-Speaking Community of Belgium.

Audiovisual coproduction instruments allow producers to combine their creative and financial resources to develop coproductions that stimulate foreign investment, create jobs, and increase exchanges of culture and knowledge between partner countries. The Memorandum of Understanding will come into effect once Canada and each of the three Belgian Communities complete their required domestic procedures.

Coproductions are given national status in both Canada and the partner country. This makes producers eligible for national benefits in their own countries, such as funding programs and tax incentives.

In the past 50 years, Canada has signed audiovisual coproduction instruments with 55 countries. In the past 10 years alone, our country has produced over 600 coproductions, whose budgets total almost $5 billion.

SOURCE Canadian Heritage