TORONTO (CP) _ Some well-known Canadian actors said Thursday that Ontario’s Liberal government broke a campaign promise to help artists qualify for the same labour protections and training programs as other workers.

Wendy Crewson, Sonja Smits and Tonya Lee Williams joined ACTRA Toronto President Karl Pruner at a news conference at the Ontario legislature to complain about so-called Status of the Artist legislation.

The actors said the Liberals promised a bill that would also extend labour protections to child actors and give artists tax breaks and housing supports.

But instead, the government quietly buried legislation in last month’s provincial budget that gives artists nothing but a weekend celebration in June.

"Let me tell you I felt angry," said Crewson, known for her roles in the television programs ’24’ and ‘ReGenesis.’

"Angry that I and all artists in this province had been duped. Angry that a government in haste to check off something on its to-do list felt that it could be done with such a vacuous piece of legislation."

Smits, the former star of popular Canadian programs ‘Street Legal’ and ‘Traders,’ said the Liberals failed to follow through on any of the key recommendations from the actors’ union.

"This act as presented offers nothing more than platitudes," said Smits.

"It does absolutely nothing to relieve the challenges that are faced by artists, and it does not fulfill the government’s commitment to artists."

Williams, who stars as Dr. Olivia Winters on the popular American soap opera ‘The Young and the Restless,’ said artists can take advantage of the fact this is an election year in Ontario to press the Liberals for changes to the bill.

"Over the years, a lot of those in the Canadian political arena have not taken seriously the voting power of the artists," said Williams.

"I think they do in the U.S. I think they fear it in the U.S."

Smits said she hoped the Liberals could be embarrassed into making improvements to the bill.

"I always think shame is a good (motivator)," she said with a laugh.

Pruner, a former star of television’s ‘ENG,’ called on Premier Dalton McGuinty to amend the legislation to add real supports for actors, dancers and other artists.

"Who thinks it’s a good idea that a very highly educated, highly motivated part of the workforce _ who because of the nature of their work has to transition out of it _ shouldn’t have access to training funds," asked Pruner.

"The province has a job to do here, and it ducked it."

NDP critic Cheri DiNovo said the Liberal government had clearly failed artists, and predicted there would not be any major changes to the bill before the Oct. 10 election.

"This is worse than inaction," said DiNovo.

"It’s a slap in the face to deliver an act called Status of the Artist and then have nothing in that act but a weekend celebration."

ACTRA said artists earn on average 24 per cent less than other Ontario workers, and are not protected by the province’s Employment Standards Act.

TORONTO – Stephen Waddell, National Executive Director of ACTRA, today announced that Brad Keenan will be filling the position of Director, ACTRA Performers’ Rights Society (ACTRA PRS). The appointment is effective immediately.

Mr. Keenan will oversee all aspects of ACTRA PRS, including the Sound Recording Division. With his solid understanding of ACTRA’s core mission to protect the rights of Canadian professional performers, Mr. Keenan will be responsible for the advocacy of ACTRA’s intellectual property rights and initiatives.

Mr. Keenan specializes in ensuring that compensation is received for the use of intellectual property rights through licensing of music and name, image and likeness rights. He has worked extensively with the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), the Audio Visual Licensing Agency (AVLA) and numerous other associations and collectives. Previously, Mr. Keenan spent nine years working at SONY BMG MUSIC (CANADA) INC. in both the Toronto and New York offices. As Director, Music Licensing & Partnership Marketing, Brad Keenan is a proven advocate of intellectual property rights holders.

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is a national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.

Toronto, March 22, 2007 – Performers are heartened by the mention in today’s Ontario budget that Status of the Artist legislation will be introduced in 2007.

“We’re hopeful that this signal by Dalton McGuinty’s government that they will be introducing Status of the Artist legislation will actually happen and that it will contain the real progress for artists we’ve been seeking. Progress such as tax relief for artists through an Ontario-based tax deferral system that would allow artists to spread their income over several years, and support for housing for aging artists,” said Karl Pruner, President of ACTRA Toronto Performers.

“ACTRA members and other artists have been to Queen’s Park over and over again in the last year to press for long-promised legislation for artists. This promise that a law will be introduced is several years overdue. Now we need to make sure these aren’t hollow words,” added Pruner.

Pruner acknowledged the budget’s inclusion of additional funding for the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC).

“I’m glad to see investments to strengthen and invest in our film and television industry through the OMDC,” said Pruner.