Among the more controversial cuts in the 2012 provincial is the province's elimination of the Film Employment Tax Credit.
The government announced that as of April 1, they would no longer be accepting FETC registrations.
The government said the tax credit has cost the province $100 million since being introduced in 1998, with assistance to the film industry exceeding $200 million during the period representing a 30 per cent subsidy. Eliminating the tax credit will save the province $8 million once it is fully phased out by December 31, 2014, they said.
The province has cited a changing operating environment for the film industry for the decision, with production concentrated on Vancouver and Toronto.
The reaction was swift and negative from the province's film and TV industry, whose advocates claim the cuts will put them out of business in the province.
That prompted a meeting to be set up Monday between Premier Brad Wall and representatives from Saskatchewan's film industry.
In speaking to reporters in a budget-day conference call last Wednesday, Finance Minister Ken Krawetz acknowledged it was a tough decision.
"It's a matter of priorities," said Krawetz.
"While we recognize that there are many good things that have been completed in this province, we recognize there's indeed a challenge facing us, because in order to stay competitive we probably would have to put in very significant amounts of dollars," he said.
Premier Wall echoed the sentiment in a news release issued Monday, saying that "given the current trends in the industry, we decided to focus on other priorities, such as other ways of supporting the film industry, affordable housing, supporting people with disabilities and improving health care, while balancing the budget."
Speaking to the News-Optimist Friday, NDP finance critic Trent Wotherspoon was vocal against the elimination of the film tax credit, calling it an "abandonment of the film industry."
"What it cuts is good activity in our economy," said Wotherspoon, who said that for every dollar of the tax credit in place "we were receiving six dollars invested back into our province."
Wotherspoon said this move meant the cutting of jobs, and well as sending "a terrible signal to creative young workers, to entrepreneurs investing in our province." He also said it put at risk the soundstage built for film and TV in the province, saying it would likely be shuttered.
"This is a big hit to our economy, but also a major loss to our cultural well-being as a province," said Wotherspoon.
