EDMONTON - Premier Ed Stelmach says he's upset provincial dollars were used to help bankroll an anti-oilsands flick.
The program that provides grants to film productions is being reviewed in a lead-up to next year's budget, he said Wednesday.
"I'm just as upset as other taxpayers that money coming from taxpayers was used to fund a film that was made, that was in many cases anti-Alberta and anti-oilsands," Stelmach said.
"On the flip side though, there's this whole question of censorship ... and should a politician make a (funding) decision based on the content of the particular production?"
The premier was reacting to a QMI Agency report that the province helped fund the documentary film, Dirty Oil.
The province contributed $54,700 to the production through the Alberta Multimedia Production Fund.
The 73-minute film, narrated by Canadian actress Neve Campbell, debuted last March in the U.K.
Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith said it's "nonsense" for Stelmach to suggest denying a film like this funding would be censorship.
"Censorship is when the government comes in and tells a private citizen or private organization, 'You can't print that,' " said Smith.
"It's not at all censorship to say, 'Sorry, we just refuse to fund that.' That's a ridiculous argument."
Smith accused the governing Tories of double-crossing Albertans by providing the subsidy.
She said on one hand, the government is spending millions to defend the oilsands, but on the other hand gives money to produce an anti-oilsands movie.
Stelmach said there are rules in place that strictly outline criteria a film must meet to qualify for a provincial subsidy.
A review of the program was announced by Culture Minister Lindsay Blackett prior to this latest revelation, he said.
"As we are heading into another year where we have to look at all our expenditures, (Blackett) will bring forward a review of the program," Stelmach said.
The premier said the province realizes many benefits from the film industry and from having movies shot here.
Liberal critic Laurie Blakeman said she doesn't understand why the Tories are surprised by the content of the film, considering it was approved by government.
"I don't see how the government can complain with shock and awe that they've funded a film, when it met the criteria they put in place."
Dirty Oil is being screened Sept. 25 at the Calgary International Film Festival. It is not slated to be screened at the Edmonton International Film Festival later this month, organizers said.
frank.landry@sunmedia.ca
