Our Reaction to the 2025 Federal Budget

AQTIS 514 IATSE REACTS TO THE FEDERAL BUDGET: AN IMPORTANT STEP, BUT URGENT STRUCTURAL REFORM IS STILL AWAITED

MONTREAL (QUEBEC) – November 6, 2025 – AQTIS 514 IATSE, the Quebec Alliance of Image and Sound Technicians, highlights the amounts announced in the 2025 Federal Budget for the audiovisual industry, recognizing the government's intention to respond to the crisis currently hitting the sector.

The Canadian government's budget will allocate nearly $750 million to culture over three to four years, with a majority of that funding earmarked for the audiovisual and music sectors.

"These funds could not come at a more critical time," said Bernard Larivière, President of AQTIS 514 IATSE. "Our industry is in crisis with, among other things, a significant drop in both Quebec and foreign production. The announced amounts demonstrate an understanding of the seriousness of the situation and the essential role of our talents."

Reform of the Funding Model: The Heart of the Problem Ignored

Despite these significant sums, AQTIS 514 IATSE expresses serious reservations about the absence of measures tackling the root of the problem: the industry's obsolete funding model.

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) still relies heavily on cable subscriptions, an outdated model given the prominence of digital platforms.

"This one-time funding will not be enough to guarantee the longevity of our industry. It is imperative to reform the funding system which dates back to 1996. The injection of $127.5 million into the CMF is a lifesaver, but if the basic structure of the system is not reformed, that life raft will be insufficient to weather the storm," laments Mr. Larivière.