VANCOUVER, August 18, 2017—The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) today announced the appointment of Jason Lee as Vice-President, BC Industrial Relations. As the chief negotiator for the CMPA BC Producers Branch, Lee will negotiate labour agreements with the province’s unions and guilds on behalf of members. He will also oversee a range of other IR issues including health and safety, community affairs and day-to-day labour issues.

Lee has been a member of the Alberta film and television community for more than 20 years. Most recently, as Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Seven24 Films, he oversaw personnel contracts, union and guild reporting, and production financing, among other duties. He will begin his new role this fall.

“I’m honoured to be representing Canadian independent producers, especially at such a crucial time in the Canadian independent production industry,” Lee said. “This sector is a both a cultural and economic powerhouse in BC and I intend to ensure independent producers in the province continue to have strong support so they can focus on making great content for audiences in Canada and around the world.”

“We are pleased to welcome Jason to the BC production community.  His extensive business and production experience will bring strength to our team,” stated Liz Shorten, Senior-Vice President, Operations and Member Services, CMPA-BC.

Lee’s many credits on television movies, series and co-productions include Mayerthorpe, Heartland, Young Drunk Punk, Burn Up and Wynonna Earp. He was also executive producer on the CBC mini-series Everest, producer on the feature film Six Figures and an associate producer of Gingersnaps II: Unleashed and Gingersnaps III: Ginger Snaps Back.

In addition to Jason’s extensive production and business affairs experience, he was appointed Co-Chair of the CMPA’s National Industrial Relations Committee in 2015 and has served on the Committee since 2008. In this capacity he participated in collective bargaining on behalf of independent producers with ACTRA, the WGC and the DGC National.

Lee will be based out of the CMPA’s BC Producers Branch. The Vancouver-based office works on behalf of over 90 production companies based in British Columbia, promoting the interests of its members with all levels of government. In addition to negotiating and managing labour agreements with BC’s unions and guilds, the non-profit trade organization also provides a variety of industry initiatives to build the capacity of its BC-based member companies.

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ABOUT THE CMPA
The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) is the country’s leading member-based advocacy organization for independent producers, representing hundreds of companies engaged in the development, production and distribution of English-language content made for television, cinema and digital media channels. The CMPA works to promote the continued success of the Canadian production sector and ensure a future for diverse content made by Canadians for both domestic and international audiences.  cmpa.ca

For more information:

Kyle O’Byrne
Manager, Media Relations & Communications
Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA)
kyle.obyrne@cmpa.ca