PRINTER'S NO. 1565
No. 122 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY BRIGHTBILL, DECEMBER 7, 1999
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, DECEMBER 7, 1999
A RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing the Congress of the United States to take action
2 to assure that Canadian subsidies and cultural protectionism
3 in the film industry be considered during the upcoming trade
4 talks with Canada.
5 WHEREAS, The financial advantages offered to filmmakers by
6 Canada have attracted movie production to Canada, which has had
7 the effect of increased employment in the Canadian film
8 industry, the building of related facilities in Canada and more
9 business for the Canadian vendors who supply movie companies
10 with essential goods and services; and
11 WHEREAS, Films that would have once been shot in the United
12 States are now being made in Canada; and
13 WHEREAS, George Romero, who during a 30-year career has made
14 all but a few of his films, including "Night of the Living
15 Dead," in Pittsburgh, made his most recent movie in Canada,
16 citing Toronto as a filmmaker's paradise; and
17 WHEREAS, Film industry support groups in the United States
18 are looking at international trade agreements as a way to level
1 the playing field between the United States and Canada with
2 regard to the film industry; and
3 WHEREAS, Members of the Congress of the United States are
4 circulating a petition to raise the issue of "runaway
5 production" in upcoming trade talks with Canada; therefore be it
6 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 memorialize Congress to take action to assure that Canadian
8 subsidies and cultural protectionism in the film industry be
9 considered during the upcoming trade talks with Canada; and be
10 it further
11 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the
12 presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each member
13 of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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