Human Resources committee  Yes.

Human Resources committee  Yes.

Human Resources committee  Many people have come to me on this brief. I believe it will make a very positive impact, particularly on the younger members of the business who become absolutely frightened to ever begin a family, because when you're self-employed you're not working, you're not auditioning, and if you're not auditioning you're not working and you're not earning any income.

Human Resources committee  It has been decades. We've been a union for 66 years. This has been on our radar for a very long time.

Human Resources committee  When you audition, you don't get paid.

Human Resources committee  Thank you. As actors know, we can't exactly fire ourselves. My members tell me stories all the time about the financial stresses they suffer as a result of not having any access, ever, to any of these social programs. I just came back from Vancouver on the red-eye last night, and the stuntwomen out there in particular were very articulate about their lack of protection in their workplace.

Human Resources committee  Stephen, you're going to have to help me on that, because we're a very different kettle of fish.

Human Resources committee  We urge all parties, especially considering the current economic slowdown, to work together to ensure that self-employed Canadians, including artists, are able to contribute to and benefit from the EI system. We must harness the full economic potential of this important industry by supporting the very creators themselves and make sure that we are on an equal footing with other Canadian workers.

Human Resources committee  Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Ferne Downey. I'm a professional actor and the elected national president of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists. I'm joined by my colleague Stephen Waddell, who is ACTRA's national executive director. Thank you for inviting us here today to bring you the concerns of the 21,000 members of ACTRA who live and work in every corner of our country.

Finance committee  It's less than $25,000 a year.

Finance committee  Good morning. My name is Ferne Downey. I'm an actor and the elected national president of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists. I'm joined today by my colleague Stephen Waddell, our national executive director. Thank you for inviting us here this morning to bring you the concerns of the 21,000 members of ACTRA.