Is Ontario finally serious about game development?

I received an interesting e-mail this afternoon from the OMDC, the crown corporation which manages tax incentives and other programs for the entertainment industry in Ontario. They released a report today, titled Ontario 2012: Stimulating Growth in Ontario's Game Industry. From the report's cover letter:

According to the study’s findings, Ontario has the opportunity to significantly enhance its presence in the growing digital game industry over the next five years, potentially becoming a global player.

Well! For a province that currently has very few big league studios, the question is whether or not we can take that opportunity, and turn it into reality. It's possible, but it will take a real commitment from the province to get there. With any luck, the provincial government will do the smart thing and get the province to diversify, rather than remain the manufacturing and primary industry centre it currently is (which, by the way, is the reason we are slowly evolving into a have-not province: because we haven't been keeping up with the times).

The report contains 17 different recommendations, variously targeting academia, industry, and government. Not surprisingly, no less than twelve of those recommendations are for the provincial government! The time frame given goes from now through 2012.

One recommendation sticks out for me, however. Recommendation 10A ("Implement an annual, domestic-focused digital game industry conference") sounds kind of like something I used to do! I'd be quite happy to talk to OMDC and the government about that. Another big one is number 12, which deals with bringing in a tax credit system like the one already in place for film makers!

I've not read the report completely, but I like what I've seen so far. If you are interested in promoting game development in Ontario, read this report, and let your MPP know you want to see the government follow through on the relevant recommendations! (Find your MPP)