City of Toronto expected to start charging fees for film permits

Thestart.com
Sept. 22, 2021

The city of Toronto issues about 5,000 film permits every year but has never actually charged a dollar fee for any of them. That’s about to change.

Toronto’s economic and community development committee is expected to endorse a staff report Wednesday, which proposes charging for road closures and other services for the first time.

“Currently we don’t charge anything to issue film permits. That was based on a decision taken many years ago when Toronto was just beginning to become a jurisdiction for film production,” said film commissioner Marguerite Pigott. “It was felt at the time that (fees) would be uncompetitive, that it would dissuade companies from choosing Toronto as a destination.”

Committee chair, Coun. Michael Thompson, said the fee program -- which would commence April 2022 -- already has the tacit support of the city’s film and television production industry, which generates about $2.2 billion in economic activity, including an estimated 35,000 jobs.

“This is all supported by the industry. We consulted with them and they’re quite pleased with respect to the fact that it’s a nominal amount of dollars when you compare how much they spend on these movies and television series and video shoots and things like that,” Thompson said.

Under the plan, fees would range from $100 for a film permit registration fee, $200 for a permit to film in a city-owned park, $300 for a location permit and $500 for a road closure. Students and local news would be exempt from all the fees, except for the $500 road closure fee.

Thompson said the fees are comparable to neighbouring jurisdictions like Hamilton and Mississauga and North American competitors like Chicago and New York.

Much of the revenue -- a projected $657,000 in 2022 and $876,250 in 2023, the first full year -- would be reinvested in the industry, including increased staffing at the city’s film and television office.

“The money essentially goes back into the industry, into the sector. This continues to be a developing industry and it is growing tremendously. This is an opportunity for us to do more for the sector,” Thompson said, noting the staff report estimates studio production space will increase by 63 per cent in the next five years.

Thompson said he expects the proposal to receive unanimous support from the economic development committee and be subsequently approved by city council.

“I don’t see why anyone at council would vote against this. I suspect some will say we should charge more,” he added.