Canadians divided on movie tax credits

OTTAWA, June 16 (UPI) -- Canadians are divided on whether government tax breaks should be withheld from filmmakers if their scripts are "contrary to public policy."

A bill before Parliament would amend the Income Tax Act to tighten film development breaks. An Ipsos Reid poll of 1,002 people conducted for the Canwest News Service June 10-12 found 52 percent said the proposal is wrong because of government censorship concerns.

John Wright, senior vice president of the polling firm, said the bill has "has obviously touched a nerve" since it was introduced by the previous Liberal government and is moving through the minority Conservative government.

"While it may have been acceptable under the Liberals because they were more flexible on content, this government has the trappings of moral and religious rigor," he said.

Canadian Heritage Minister Josee Verner has said the government is trying to make sure taxpayers' money doesn't end up funding extreme violence or pornography, the report said.