Equity member performers (singers and dancers), directors, choreographers, fight directors, intimacy directors, and stage managers, are professional artists, having made a career commitment to their craft. Membership in Equity is a symbol of that commitment.
Rights & Responsibilities
- An Equity member has the right to a safe and sanitary workplace.
- An Equity member has the right to a harassment-free working environment where physical and verbal abuse are not tolerated.
- An Equity member has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect.
- An Equity member has the right to be paid no less than the negotiated minimum fee for an engagement, and to be free to negotiate a higher fee.
- An Equity member has the right to rest breaks, meal breaks, and overnight breaks.
Members enjoy these rights today because members before them believed in these principles and fought for these rights which must be upheld by the membership as a whole.
Basic membership dues are $180 per year. Members are invoiced in equal $90 semi-annual installments on the first days of May and November. There is a three month grace period after each billing date in which dues can be paid before incurring an overdue fee. However, a member under contract should remit any basic dues payment owing immediately and remain in "good standing" throughout the duration of a contract. Members should also be or bring themselves in to good standing prior to signing an Equity contract (see "Finances and Dues" in Equity's Constitution and Bylaws).
Further information regarding dues and payments is available by email to Equity's Membership Administrator at membership@caea.com or by telephone at 1-800-387-1856 (416-867-9165 in Toronto).
This feature allows members to log in to EQUITYONLINE and securely pay dues in a few simple clicks. To pay your dues online, log in and click 'Pay Equity Dues Online'.
Select Canadian Actors' Equity Association (may be listed under Ontario) as a bill payee on your banking institution's website. Equity members should use their member number as their account number. Once Equity is registered as a bill, payment may be initiated.
Ensure that your member number and name are clearly identified on the cheque. Payment by cheque should be mailed to Equity's National Office.
For accounts not paid before the end of the first three month grace period a $10 overdue fee is applied. Another $10 overdue fee is applied to accounts not paid within six months. Overdue fees are applied every August 1, November 1, February 1, and May 1 to all unpaid accounts.
After nine months another $10 overdue fee applies. After one year of non-payment a member's account will be assessed a $25 reinstatement fee.
Dues remission is intended to recognize a member’s longevity in the industry and longstanding commitment to their Association as a dues paying member of Equity. Equity members on dues remission no longer have to pay basic dues.
The member must meet the criteria outlined below in order to be entitled to dues remission status.
- Theatre performers, directors, choreographers, fight directors, intimacy directors and stage managers, are eligible for basic dues remission at age 65 or over, if they are a regular member presently in good standing, and have been a member of Equity, continuously in good standing for the 10 years prior to their application.*
- Opera singers are eligible for basic dues remission at age 55 or over, if they are a regular member presently in good standing, and have been a member of Equity, continuously in good standing for the 10 years prior to their application.*
- Ballet dancers are eligible for dues remission at age 45 or over, if they are a regular member presently in good standing, and have been a member of Equity, continuously in good standing for the 10 years prior to their application.*
Dues remission is not automatic nor is it required. Members must apply to the Association in writing to request dues remission status. Members on dues remission will continue to pay working dues when engaged under an Equity contract.
*Equity members who have incurred an arrears penalty (or penalties) may also qualify for dues remission after having met additional criteria. For more details on qualifying for dues remission, please consult our dues remission FAQ or email Equity's Membership Administrator at membership@caea.com.
Members who will not be working in Equity’s jurisdiction for at least one year may temporarily withdraw from active membership status. Withdrawn members may not vote in ratifications, elections, referenda or attend any Equity meetings. Any dues owing at the time of withdrawal will be payable before reinstating.
Application for membership withdrawal should be addressed to the Executive Director and must be made in writing, by post or email (membership@caea.com). Applications for withdrawal sent by email will only be accepted provided the email address from which application is sent matches the member's email address on file in Equity's records.
Please note, being on withdrawal will affect your qualification for dues remission. To learn more, please check the dues remission FAQ.
Members also pay 2.25% working dues, deducted at source, when working under an Equity contract. Engagers deduct working dues from a member's weekly fee (along with other benefit payments as applicable) and remits this directly to Equity on behalf of the Artist.