Comments on: Why Sunday’s RAGM is a big moment for Canadian Theatre and why it’s got nothing to do with raising dues

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The Indie Caucus goes to Videofag » Praxis Theatre — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:42:08 +0000

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By: Equity Member? This is where you should be on Monday night – Praxis Theatre

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:33:32 +0000

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By: Philip Akin

Philip Akin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:59:32 +0000

Ok Mark I get that and it does seem prudent but I have to say that if expected cuts come on the producer’s side because of government cutbacks etc then production will go down and I suspect many more actors will be going on withdrawal and this dues increase won’t be able to make up for that. A proposal on the table right now with the Canada Council will take 1% away from operating budgets and another 10% to be taken for re-allocation. Couple that with potential TAC cuts and we will all be cutting core programs. And if producer’s cut then the whole structural side of the industry will have to cut.

By: Mark Brownell

Mark Brownell — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:42:37 +0000

Well you are probably still buzzing from the Prince concert so it is entirely understandable.

A caveat: I am not an accountant, but here’s the way I understand it…

Last year’s financial statement found on the website in the “news” subdirectory indicates there was no deficit. The accumulated surplus that you refer to is intact. But it’s become apparent that the yearly operating budget will be heading into deficit this year. As you probably know, rainy day stabilization funds have a tendency to disappear very quickly when there is a structural deficit occuring. Equity is not-for-profit – so things need to balance out to zero. That is becoming increasingly difficult as inflation takes its bite, working dues drop, and more and more members default on their basic dues. The new numbers will be presented at the NAGM in February 2012 in Toronto. Equity has already started to downsize its programs and is taking a very hard look at cutting some core functions should the referendum go down to defeat.

By: Philip Akin

Philip Akin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:42:41 +0000

Sigh…and the spellcheck would reply: Gee Philip, their = there

By: Philip Akin

Philip Akin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:40:06 +0000

Hi Mark,

Is their a deficit for the last year end? I haven’t seen any numbers around that but even so it does not address the Cash Assets of over 2 Mil.
All I am saying is that if the rational for an increase is budgetary then there should be something that shows that.

Philip

By: Mark Brownell

Mark Brownell — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:00:22 +0000

Hi Philip,

I believe Kris is referring to the current yearly budget – not an accumulated deficit.