The Province has introduced Bill 33, amendments to the Motion Picture Act – giving Consumer Protection BC (CPBC) the tools it needs to better protect the interests of individuals and families.

The Motion Picture Act protects children and families by ensuring that all motion pictures shown in theatres in B.C. have been reviewed and classified – helping parents and moviegoers make informed choices. If passed, the act will help ensure theatres continue to obey the law by adopting a progressive compliance and enforcement model, with an emphasis on voluntary compliance. This is similar to what has been proven to be effective in other sectors that CPBC regulates.

Sanctions for licensees who break the rules would now range from a warning letter, to monetary penalties that don’t involve the courts, to licence suspension or termination depending on the seriousness of the violation. This will provide more flexibility than the current enforcement options, which only include licence suspension or cancellation, seizure, or the levy of a fine that involves the court system.

The act is also being modernized to capture changes in the way movies are distributed to theatres in present day, for example, by satellite and digital distribution. Definitions under the act for terms, such as "film" and "motion picture", will be clarified.

Quotes:

Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton –

“B.C. parents want to know that when they go to the movies, their children’s interests are protected and the film will be age-appropriate. Our proposed changes to the Motion Picture Act will help increase compliance by offering Consumer Protection BC new, more flexible enforcement options for licensees who break the rules – an approach that has been successful in increasing compliance in other sectors.”

Rob Gialloreto, president and CEO of Consumer Protection BC –

“Consumer Protection BC is supportive of the Province’s proposed updates to the Motion Picture Act. If passed, these changes will provide us with the compliance mechanisms to more effectively regulate the industry for the benefit of families and all citizens in British Columbia. When combined with our existing consumer and business education tools, these changes will enhance our ability to ensure a level playing field for motion picture licensees in B.C.”

Quick Facts:

• These changes, if passed, will modernize the act – the last time any significant changes were made to the Motion Picture Act was almost 30 years ago, in 1986.
• CPBC – a non-for-profit corporation that operates at arms length from government – issues licences for the motion picture and video industry based on the requirements of the Motion Picture Act.

For more information:

Consumer Protection BC is the regulator of a variety of industries and specific consumer contracts in the province:
http://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/