Trailer Park Boys appeal to government to save film tax credit
WARNING: The attached video contains language that may offend some
A video made by the Trailer Park Boys calling attention to a possible cut to Nova Scotia's Film Tax Credit is going viral.
The video, featuring Mike Smith, Robb Wells and John Paul Tremblay — playing their iconic characters Bubbles, Ricky and Julian — has been viewed on Facebook more than 375,000 times since it was posted Thursday.
In character, the boys muse about moving production of their show.
"Okay, so, we live in the Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Nova Scotia Canada and I just found out on the internet here that the Nova Scotia government might be cuttin' the tax program, the tax credit thing," said a visibly upset Bubbles.
"If they do that, then the camera people that come and film us, put us on the TV — they're not going to be able to come anymore. So there'll be no more shows, unless we move away."
"I'm not moving, I've lived in Sunnyvale my whole life," Ricky said in the video.
"No Ricky, I'm not either. I've got my kitties – I cannot just pack up 116 kitties and move, but what are we going to do?" Bubbles asks.
In their appeal, the boys ask fans to contact Diana Whalen, finance minister for the province, hoping to gain enough support to prevent the cut.
"Don't be mean, don't be rude, swearing at them and stuff, just say 'I live in whatever country here you're in and I know all about Nova Scotia, Canada because of those guys and I watch the show. Please don't let it go away.' Maybe they'll listen," said Bubbles.
Earlier this week, Whalen openly mused about cutting the tax credit. According to Whalen, it costs the government $25 million and she says most of the companies that receive the credit do not owe taxes in Nova Scotia.
Marc Almon from Screen Nova Scotia says Whalen is wrong.
"These are single production companies that are making the films, but they're owned by parent companies here that pay taxes, that engage people and Nova Scotians, and other Nova Scotian companies that pay taxes," he said.
"So we're paying payroll taxes, HST, and basically government is collecting millions of dollars in tax revenues every year."
Actor Gharrett Paon worries about the impact.
"If the tax credit is gone, like many Nova Scotia filmmakers, producers, my whole business model is completely destroyed. I'm not sure what I would do," he said.
Whalen's decision will be revealed in the next provincial budget that's due on Thursday.
- GRAPHIC LANGUAGE WARNING: This video contains language that may offend some