The Status of Ontario's Artists Act 2007, introduced as part of the province's budget, fails to improve the lives and incomes of Ontario's artists in the cultural sector.

Equity shares the disappointment felt by our arts and culture colleagues from across the province. The bill in its current form will do more harm than good if implemented. Empty legislation will hurt the arts industry as a whole and the livelihood of individual artists across all medias." said Canadian Actors' Equity Association's Executive Director Susan Wallace.

The Liberal Government has introduced legislation that falls far short of delivering on its promise from the 2003 provincial election campaign. The Act in its present form does not address improved minimum working conditions, enhanced economic and social benefits and collective bargaining rights for professional artists and other self-employed cultural workers.

Equity calls on the Government of Ontario to implement legislative amendments to the Act, specifically providing for a collective bargaining procedure for professional artists and engagers. Equity also wants to see the introduction of protections for child performers, enhanced training and professional development programs in the cultural sector, income averaging for artists and greater protections for senior members of our community.

Provided the Government of Ontario is amenable to changing the legislation as it stands currently, it is not too late to implement meaningful legislation to truly meet the diverse needs of professional artists, cultural workers, engagers and producers in the province.

Canadian Actors' Equity Association is the voice of professional artists working in live performance in English Canada. It is a national artists' association representing more than 5,500 performers, directors, choreographers, fight directors and stage managers working in theatre, opera and dance from coast to coast.

Contact: Lynn McQueen, Communications Director: 416-867-9165 ext. 2620 (cellular 416-476-7037) or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

NOTE: You can download a copy of the Act by clicking here .