Ontario Lures Productions With Provincial Tax Credit

Variety Staff

October 21, 2016 at 1:15 p.m.

Ontario, the most populous of Canada’s 10 provinces, and the second largest in total area, offers multiple opportunities to filmmakers and TV producers seeking a place to shoot their next project.

The area’s deep production infrastructure includes multiple modern soundstages, a numerous and experienced labor force, and a state-of-the-art post-production and visual effects community.

Toronto, the largest city, has over the years stood in for New York, Boston, Washington, and multiple other U.S. metropolitan areas. The soaring CN Tower has been seen in many a film frame, and the city’s bustling streets, including the financial district, exemplify urban settings and living.

Meanwhile, Toronto’s bustling waterfront along the Saint Lawrence River is the very picture of maritime commerce and grungy seaport activity. And Niagara Falls, at the border with the U.S., is an iconic natural wonder.

But Ontario’s must alluring asset by far it its 21.5% refundable tax credit on qualified spend, which is stackable with the Canadian federal incentive, creating a financial windfall for producers looking to maximize their dollars.

Add to that the lopsided exchange rate between Canada and the United States – whereby one U.S. dollar will buy approximately 1.31 Canadian dollars – and the notion of shooting north of the border becomes hard to resist.

Recent feature films shot in Ontario include: “It” (2017), “XXX: The Return of Xander Cage” (2017), “Suicide Squad (2016),” and “ARQ” (2016). TV series that made the province their production home include “Designated Survivor,” “Dark Matter,” and “The Strain.”

Information courtesy of EP Financial Solutions, a production incentive consulting and financial services company.