Facing the harsh reality

Dear members,

I'm addressing you today in a particularly difficult time for our industry. The year 2025 is shaping up to be one of the toughest we have experienced. Shoots are becoming rare, job offers are decreasing, and the future seems more uncertain than ever, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence, geopolitical shifts, and the still-to-come impacts of major political decisions.

Today, what we're seeing is a marked decrease in production: about 22% less in American productions overall, and 27% less in the Quebec sector.

I wish I could tell you that I perfectly understand what is happening, but the reality is much more complex.

What I know for sure is that we hear you, that we are fully aware of the precarity many of you find yourselves in, and that we share your concerns. Many have had to turn to other jobs, sometimes far from their passion. And some, unfortunately, may not come back.

The loss of our talent is one of my greatest fears, because it is you—your skills, your passion, and your expertise—that constitute the wealth of our industry in Quebec.

Among the causes of this crisis, several factors are intertwined:

• Broadcasters' advertising revenues are decreasing.

• The number of cable subscribers continues to drop.

• The traditional economic model is weakened by changes in consumer habits: viewers are increasingly turning to streaming platforms, abandoning conventional channels.

Furthermore, our industry's funding system is outdated. It dates back to 1996. The Canada Media Fund (CMF), a key driver for Canadian content creation, is still primarily supported by cable subscriptions—a model that is rapidly eroding. For example, the funds invested by the CMF went from $374 million in 2015 to $346 million in 2025, and that's not even accounting for inflation. It's a real decrease in support for creation at a time when we need more resources.

These transformations affect the entire chain: technicians, producers, directors, and screenwriters, many of whom have already spoken out publicly to warn about the seriousness of the situation.

We are eagerly awaiting the recommendations of the Groupe de travail sur l’avenir de l’audiovisuel québécois (GTAAQ), a group commissioned by the Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe, to whom we submitted a brief. The report is expected to be made public this fall.

We also deplore the federal government's backtracking on implementing a tax on digital services, as well as the lack of budgetary commitment from both Ottawa and Quebec City. This only increases our concerns.

But despite everything, we are not giving up. Your union is active, mobilized, and continues to defend your rights at all discussion tables. We are working with our industry partners to find sustainable solutions and ensure that our voice—your voice—is heard in the decisions to come.

We also understand that the $50 increase in annual dues may have surprised or shocked many of you, especially in such a difficult context. This decision was not taken lightly at the Annual General Meeting. Several internal efforts were made to reduce costs, and more than $350,000 was cut from various budgets to minimize the impact on members while maintaining the quality of services. It is precisely in these moments that participation in our meetings becomes crucial. A lot of information is discussed and many questions are answered there. Your involvement is therefore essential to guide our decisions.

Together, we have overcome crises. We will get through this one too. But to succeed, we must remain united, supportive, and determined.

Thank you for your resilience, your commitment, and your patience. We will continue to keep you informed and support you as best we can in the months ahead.

In solidarity,

Bernard Larivière, President