Not What I Meant By ‘Going Viral’ by Alan Willaert, AFM International Vice President from Canada

In 1927, a movie called The Jazz Singer was released. As the first “talkie,” it sounded the death knell for live music work in theatres throughout North America. The phasing out of radio orchestras resulted in a large number of musicians being unemployed. However, 2020 will be infamous in history as a virus now identified as COVID-19 effectively shut down an entire entertainment industry in an extremely sudden and devastating manner. This is not what we hoped for when using the term “going viral.”

On March 13, the Canadian Office (CFM) instituted reduced hours, a rotating but skeletal staff, and proceeded to provide services on a work-from-home basis. On that same March 13, work kicked into overdrive as the true extent of the damage became apparent, and action had to be taken quickly to mitigate the toll taken by a total work stoppage.

A letter from the CFM went out immediately to all levels of government because in the initial Federal response workers not normally eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) were off the radar—meaning 98% of Canadian musicians were excluded. The letter stressed the following points:

• A waiver of the one-week waiting
  period for EI.
• Expanding the benefit to include “gig economy,” or freelance workers.
• Funding for symphony, theatre, and arts organizations to allow them to maintain payroll.
• Assistance to stimulate and revitalize the industry once the crisis had passed.

Videoconferencing had begun almost immediately with other entertainment unions. CFM was an active participant, and signed on to a joint letter to government, along with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (CAEA) and others. We also asked Canadian locals to track, as much as possible, the lost work suffered by their respective memberships. While this was clearly a monumental task, we were able to create a combined spreadsheet, updated weekly, in the event the government was insistent upon having backup data as the only justification for compensation.

Michael Murray, executive director of Local 149 (Toronto, ON), was instrumental in the creation and administration of an online petition containing several recommendations to the government for response to the crisis. A joint letter from CFM and Local 149 was sent to Heritage Minister Guilbeault on March 26. In short, the recommendations were:

• Ensure that all musicians would be eligible for the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).
• Implement Live Arts Labour Tax Credits and Live Arts Labour Rebates.
• Consider allowing arts and cultural industry companies, including small, medium, and large for-profit, not-for-profit, and charitable companies, to have access to the Business Development Bank’s working capital loans and that these loans are fully forgivable.
• Consider providing significant targeted funds of at least $50 million to CBC/Radio-Canada to be put towards the wages, production, broadcast, and streaming of live performance studio recordings, within the bounds of public health guidance both during full COVID-19 restrictions and at a time of recovery.
• Grant a reprieve on the remittance of Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
• Consider a contribution to each of the AFC, Fondation des Artistes and its affiliated funds, and Unison Benevolent Fund to support their Emergency Financial Assistance Programs at this time of high demand.
• Consider advocating to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for visa extensions and provide refunds on visa fees.
• Consider the payout of all grants and subsidies from the Department of Heritage and waive the requirement for completed activity for those who have provided cancellation fees to musicians and other artists.

Rosalyn Dennett, who is an Electronic Media Services Division (EMSD) staff member at the Canadian Office, has been instrumental in posting updates for available subsidies, as well as all things COVID-19, in our social media outlets. In addition, she has created a one-stop centre for all information in the Canadian section of the AFM website, located at www.cfmusicians.org/resources.

The CFM was also asked to participate in a task force, spearheaded by the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). This has proven useful because the employers of the entertainment industry are also shut down, and they have many of the same concerns as the musicians whom they employ. A united voice to government, on behalf of the industry as a whole, is far more likely to be a credible barometer, wherever our objectives are not contrary.

We are also participating in a separate coalition of entertainment unions, specifically IATSE, CAEA, AFM, and Associated Designers of Canada (ADC). Again, as one voice, we are in the process of creating a letter to government to identify long-term issues, and make suggestions for the industry to re-energize, once clearance to return to work is given. These issues are:

• Income earning thresholds should be implemented to allow live performance workers/artists to generate a reasonable level of “gig” income while still in receipt of Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) support.
• Seasonal and contractor workers/artists who would have generated income from live performance work in the spring and fall of 2020 but for the health crisis should be entitled to the CERB.
• The duration of the CERB for live performance workers/artists needs to be extended to at least until the end of 2020 given the fact that the recovery of the live performance industry to its pre-health crisis norm will take at least that long.
• Live performance employers should be able to claim the 75% wage subsidy for all regular full-time, part-time, contract, and/or seasonal workers/artists.
• Live performance employers should be able to claim the 75% wage subsidy for all workers/artists irrespective of whether those workers/artists are engaged as traditional “employees” or in a self-employed capacity.
• The duration of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for live performance employers needs to be extended to at least until the end of 2020 given the fact that the recovery of the live performance industry to its pre-health crisis norm will take at least that long.

In addition to the foregoing, we propose the following additional support initiatives for the federal government’s consideration to assist the arts and culture industry in its health crisis recovery:

1. Specific Arts and Culture Emergency Economic Support

• Increase funding allocations to the Canada Arts Council and various provincial arts bodies that will allow those bodies to utilize their expertise to allocate additional funds to arts and culture organizations to assist them in attracting live audience attendees—using an organization’s previous years’ ticket sales averages as the eligibility criteria for funding amounts (i.e. providing organizations funding equal to 50% of the average of the previous five years’ ticket sales so that the organization can attract audiences with reduced ticket prices).
• It is our understanding that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy does not include municipally/provincially run venues if they are owned by a provincial and or municipal entity. We therefore ask for the inclusion of municipally/provincially run venues in the CEWS or commitment of separate funds earmarked exclusively to assist in the recovery for municipally and provincially run venues.
• Amend the Income Tax Act on a temporary basis so that live performance ticket purchases are treated as charitable donations for tax purposes for 2020 and 2021.
• Devise and implement federal tax credit incentives for live performance organizations similar to the types of provincial tax incentive policies that have given rise to record-setting levels of film and television production across Canada.
• Identify and implement longer-term financial assistance initiatives that recognize the recovery of the live performance industry will take much longer than any other industry.

2. National Marketing Campaign to Rediscover and Support the Arts

• Work with all arts and culture stakeholders to design, implement, and fund a national marketing campaign aimed at encouraging Canadians to return to the various arts and culture venues as patrons and audiences.
• As part of any marketing campaign, allocate funding to provincial and municipal organizations to enable them to use their expertise to design and implement more focused localized campaigns collaboratively with stakeholders.

3. Safe Return for Workers and Audiences

• Work with all arts and culture stakeholders and all levels of provincial and municipal government to design and implement appropriate public health protocols that will provide an environment for the safe return of workers/artists and audiences to the various arts and culture venues.

As you can see, we continue to be involved in many initiatives in an ongoing effort to ease the stresses imposed on our members because of this worldwide phenomenon. But, make no mistake—musicians would have not been included in the CERB without the persistence of the CFM and our sister unions to ensure that “gig economy” artists would be covered, and that any incidental revenue they had because of students, royalties, or other small amounts of income would not render them ineligible. When I pressed him for answers during the CMPA videoconference, Minister Guilbeault stated emphatically that he had heard our message “loud and clear,” and that adjustments would be made to accommodate our freelance players.

While none of us can predict what the short-term future is of the COVID-19 fiasco, please be aware that your union is doing everything it can, along with our partners, to ensure our members are included in all government subsidies, and to provide a positive transition into the world post-virus. For now, please embrace safe practices and distancing, that you and your families remain safe and healthy.

The Musicians’ Relief Fund helps union musicians who work gig to gig and are confronting extraordinary financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that you must meet ALL of the following five requirements to apply for financial assistance:

1. You must currently be a member in good standing of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada.
2. You must be primarily engaged as a freelance musician.
3. You must not be receiving post-COVID-19 lockdown payments of any sort from a musical employer, which payments flow from an agreement between an employer and AFM or one of its locals.
4. You must reside and work in the United States or Canada.
5. You have lost work due to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus).

Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis, and must be received by November 15, 2020. Payment amount is subject to availability of funds. Initial payments will not exceed $300 but may be revised upward if additional funding permits.

Application Form: https://www.afm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Musicians-Relief-Fund-Application.pdf

The Music Performance Trust Fund will soon be accepting applications and now has 3 separate FUNDS available for access:

1. Regular Funding: these applications are made through the Sec-Treasurer (S.T.) and are deducted from the Local’s allocation.

• • You can apply for events such as Communities, Education, and Medical Facilities.
  • All of these are at 50% co-sponsorship.  

2. MusicianFest: This program is for single musicians who perform in Seniors’ facilities. These applications are made through the S.T. and are fully funded by MPTF. MPTF also requests a letter or email from the facility authorizing the performance and how the seniors would view the performance.

        https://musicpf.org/musicianfest/

3. Educational Initiative Program: You must submit a proposal first before being approved. Send proposals to the S.T. for processing. Please note that this MPTF fully funded program has limited resources and your proposal should include the following:

• • MISSION
  • NUMBER OF CONCERTS & A LIST OF CONFIRMED DATES
  • AGE GROUP TARGET
  • ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS
  • NUMBER OF MUSICIANS
  • TYPE OF MUSIC
  • COST DETAILS (MUSICIANS, CARTAGE, ETC)
  • APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WILL EXPERIENCE THE MUSIC
  • GOAL: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO ACCOMPLISH FROM THIS PERFORMANCE?

 https://musicpf.org/music-in-schools/

*Important - MPTF needs promotional photos of your performances for their website and Facebook page.

**Contact the office for further information on the process info@calgarymusicians.org

Air Passenger Protection Regulations Amendments Include Mandatory Acceptance Of Musical Instruments

TORONTO, May 29, 2019 - The Canadian Federation of Musicians announce a successful outcome in its efforts to affect much needed changes to Canada's Air Policy  with regard to the transportation of musical instruments on Canadian air carriers. Effective July 15, 2019, Air Passenger Protection Regulations within the Canadian Transportation Act will include language that ensures that all air carriers must accept musical instruments unless security or safety is an issue. These amendments will include clear and predictable terms and conditions with regard to musical instruments as well as the obligation to carry and accept an instrument.  Airlines will also be required to offer an alternative to musicians travelling with instruments should a change in aircraft cause an instrument not to fit.

"Over the years, we've seen far too many professional musicians have very expensive and often irreplaceable tools of their trade broken or destroyed during air travel,"  explains Alan Willaert, Vice-President from Canada, American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. "We have worked closely with the Government of Canada and all Canadian air carriers on this issue since 2014 and are delighted to see these demands become regulation.  We are grateful to The Honourable Minister Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport who has been supportive from the very beginning; the officials at Transport Canada, who have worked tirelessly with us; and the Canadian Transportation Agency".

CFM will issue a Canadian Flying Guide over the coming weeks to further assist musicians flying with instruments.  Each airline will also have clear guidelines published as part of their Tariff.  Under the Obligation to Carry amendments, all commercial airline carriers must accept musical instruments as checked or carry-on baggage, unless it is contrary to general terms and conditions in the carrier's tariff with respect to the weight or dimension of baggage or because of safety or security. The Canadian Federation of Musicians looks forward to working with Transport Canada and air carriers to help make these positive changes as seamless as possible.

The Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM) is the Canadian National Office of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM). We are made up of 200 local offices across North America, collectively representing 80,000 professional musicians, 17,000 of whom live and work in Canada.  Proudly celebrating 40 remarkable years of service, CFM is uniquely positioned to address Canadian issues and provides vital resources for Canadian musicians, at any stage in their careers.

For more information please visit us at www.cfmusicians.org @CFM on Twitter׀ Facebook | Instagram     #makespace4mycase   #haveinstrumentwilltravel

https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/air-passenger-protection-regulations

Join us for an information session for individual artists interested in applying to the Canada Council. These sessions are designed to provide an overview on grants available to individual artists working across artistic fields of practice.

CALGARY

English-language session with possibility to book French-language individual meeting

When: Wednesday, August 22, 2018

10:00 am to 12:00 p.m.

Where: cSPACE King Edward

4th Floor, RGO Treehouse South Room

1721 29th Avenue SW

Calgary, Alberta

You will have the opportunity to:  

• learn about programs at the Canada Council;

• get advice on how to prepare grant applications;

• understand how applications are assessed.

RSVP by August 16, 2018! Individual consultations upon request.

NOTE: Please indicate in the subject line of your RSVP email, the city and session, you want to attend.

RSVPs and information:

Laura Beks

Program Assistant

1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) ext. 4052

laura.beks@canadacouncil.ca

Folks just like you are super keen to tell their Members of Parliament why universal pharmacare makes sense.

So, we’re making it easy for everyone to do it.

Join us this Wednesday, August 8, at 12:30 p.m. EDT for a LIVE Webinar. Become an expert on pharmacare with quick and easy information that we’ll teach you to deliver with confidence.

We can’t assume the federal government will know what we want – it’s up to us to tell them. They need to hear directly from us. We need a plan that is universal, portable, accessible, comprehensive and publicly administered.

Can we count on you? Register now: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1049149989332807169

Best,
Laurie Antonin

The Pharmacare Team
Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of Canada's unions

General information: Status of the Artist

What is happening?

The Government of Alberta is exploring ways to enhance the status of Alberta’s artists and recognize the important social and economic contributions artists make to the province and the quality of life of Albertans.

Status of the Artist initiatives, which can include legislation, consistently have two main components:

• Recognizing and raising awareness of the value of artists in Alberta; and

• Enhancing the economic and working conditions of artists in Alberta.

Why we are talking to you?

We are talking to artists and representative arts organizations across Alberta and from different communities so we can gather feedback from a variety of perspectives. What we learn from these discussions will be used to:

• Ensure the government’s actions are meaningful and reflective of Alberta’s arts community;

• Identify specific actions government could take to recognize and enhance the status of Alberta’s artists; and

• Better inform government policies and programs that impact artists.

Our government began an initial engagement process in November and December of 2017. This next round of engagement is building on what we learned last year.

How do other Canadian jurisdictions recognize and enhance the status of artists?

Some Canadian jurisdictions recognize artists through Status of the Artist legislation. The federal government and five provinces—Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador—have Status of the Artist legislation. While the content of each province’s legislation varies widely, it consistently serves as a formal commitment to the arts and artists.

What can you expect?

At an engagement session, you can expect to spend approximately three and a half hours discussing issues with other artists and arts stakeholders about how to raise the profile of artists and their contributions to Alberta’s society. This process will help us gather information about meaningful ways the government can contribute to this goal, either through the introduction of legislation or through other means (such as recommending changes to current policy).

How else can you provide feedback?

We are also gathering feedback through an online survey. We encourage you to also share your thoughts at www.alberta.ca/status-of-the-artist-engagement.aspx The survey will remain open until June 22, 2018.

What supports and resources are currently available to artists in Alberta?

The Government of Alberta primarily supports artists and arts organizations through the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA). Through the AFA, the government supports artistic activity that encourages excellence, provides public access, promotes the value of the arts and celebrates Alberta artists as cultural ambassadors.

Through the AFA, individual artists can apply for project funding that supports art production, training and career development (including support for tuition or program fees), art marketing, or art research. The AFA also provides operating and project funding to art organizations that provide artist employment or purchase artists’ work or services. The government also acquires, preserves and shares artwork by Albertan artists through the AFA Art Collection.

The government increased funding for the AFA in 2017. The government also supports programs and initiatives that benefit the arts sector in Alberta, such as:

• The new Screen-Based Production Grant, which launched in 2017 and supports the creation of film and television production in Alberta;

• The Northern and Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditoriums, which host more than 430 performances per year and the government recently announced a $9.3 million investment to upgrade;

• Community grants, including the Community Facility Enhancement Program which provides funding to purchase build, renovate or upgrade public-use community facilities, such as the recent investments to rebuild the Roxy Theatre in Edmonton and upgrade the Arts Commons facility in Calgary; and,

• Alberta Culture Days, which provides grants to support the province’s largest celebration of arts, heritage, diversity and community spirit.

Dear Members,

Bank of Montreal is ending the AFM/CFM MasterCard Affinity Program. This is due to low participation rates and their program now only accepts larger organizations with a minimum of 50,000 Canadian members. Current AFM/CFM MasterCard accounts will still be active, so if you have that credit card you will continue on as a BMO client. There will be a switch from the AFM/CFM MasterCard to the BMO MasterCard. The following two changes may occur: Adjustment of interest rate and the issuing of a blank BMO MasterCard in replacement of the AFM/CFM branded card. 

The product types remain the same after the transition, with the exception of the "No Fee Cashback” product which actually increases to 1{1d776386b9cb999ea5067fee5aa6c3c1db850fc0b970320d4605b640dd6750c1} cashback reward. Meanwhile, the interest rates will increase for both Retail Purchases and Cash Advances.

BMO will release a letter in May to clients of the changes and all accounts will be rolled over by the end of June. For further questions, please contact BMO at 1-800-263-2263. 

We are currently investigating alternative programs with other financial partners and will update you as new information is available. 

Sincerely, 

Canadian Federation of Musicians

For more information please visit us at www.cfmusicians.org | CFM on Twitter|CFM on Facebook.