Your member card is available to download in your myEquity account. Log in and click the ‘Download Member Card’ button on your dashboard. Save the card to your smartphone’s camera roll for easy access, or download and print a PDF. Don’t forget to download your updated card after paying your dues.
Your membership must be in good standing to download your member card.
Basic dues may be paid without penalty within 3 months of the billing date — the deadline is July 31 for the May basic dues billing, and January 31 for the November basic dues billing. Failure to pay will change your membership status to Arrears and a $15 penalty fee will be charged every 3 months until the entire balance is paid.
If you do not pay dues and come into Good Standing for eight consecutive dues billing periods (approximately 4 years), your membership will be terminated, as per Bylaw 49(F).
Some members may qualify for Dues Remission, in recognition of their career longevity and long-standing relationship with Equity. If you have been in good standing for at least 10 years and are at least 65 years old (as a performer, stage manager, director, choreographer, fight director, or intimacy director), 55 years old (as an opera singer) or 45 years old (as a ballet dancer), you can apply for Dues Remission – meaning you don’t have to pay semi-annual dues, only working dues.
Equity is almost entirely funded through members’ dues. Basic and working dues support the negotiating and administering of collective agreements, enforcement of workplace standards, advocacy for artists, and providing benefits and resources to members.
Equity members in good standing can temporarily put their membership on hold by going on Withdrawal for (at least) a year. If you don’t see yourself working on an Equity contract for the next year, it’s a smart way to avoid racking up back dues and late payment penalties. But don’t worry – you’re still an Equity member! Whenever you’re ready to return, you just need to pay the outstanding dues owed before you went on Withdrawal, the basic dues for the current period, and a $25 administration fee to be in good standing again.
Please contact Equity’s Membership department (membership@caea.com) to request to go on Temporary Withdrawal.
Yes! Equity has a number of engagement policies that are designed to be more flexible — to encourage the production of small-scale, low-budget, or member-led productions.
Learn more about what each engagement policy is best suited for
Members enjoy benefits such as insurance coverage, contributions to a retirement plan, and the right to vote on Equity matters. Permittees benefit from the terms and conditions of Equity’s collective agreements, but do not receive additional advantages.
Yes. Intimacy Directors are quickly becoming an essential part of many productions, helping the artists involved navigate the complex matters of scenes with intimacy or emotionally triggering material. Their value to the industry is growing fast and Equity is proud to have Intimacy Directors in the membership.
The AFC is a lifeline for artists working in Canada’s entertainment industry. They provide short-term financial assistance and support to Canadian entertainment professionals to maintain their health, dignity and ability to work. That could be help with your rent, utility bills, groceries, medical expenses, childcare expenses, or even your Equity basic dues.
Many opportunities exist for emerging artists, but professional theatres, opera houses, and dance companies hire professional artists on Equity contracts.
Equity Stage Managers join through an apprentice membership path. Other disciplines — performers, directors, choreographers, fight directors, and intimacy directors — have different joining requirements and don’t join Equity as apprentices.
The answer varies depending on your career path. Generally, you should join when you are ready to work exclusively under professional Equity contracts and when it makes financial sense for you.
Members can submit claims to Crawford & Company directly online. Go to the Equity-Crawford Claims Portal and create an account, then complete the online form and upload any required documents. No more fussing with paper copies of receipts. No more messing about with envelopes and stamps. Take a stroll outside and skip the mailbox! Click here for more information about submitting insurance claims.
Normally, within 10 business days of being received by Crawford. Submitting your claim online and choosing Direct Deposit is typically the quickest way to receive your reimbursement.
Claims can be submitted within 1 year from the date on the official receipt.
Yes. Please refer to the “Medical Exclusions” section in the plan booklet.
Yes, but only as a result of an accident.
No. Equity’s Accidental Insurance coverage should not affect your eligibility for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. To learn more about the Canada Plan’s eligibility requirements, check here.
No, unless you became disabled while under contract and you have notified Crawford.
Speak to a representative at Crawford. If you need further assistance, please contact Equity’s Director of Finance and Administration, Jing Zhao, CPA, PLP (jing@caea.com).
Please contact Canada Life directly for assistance with your RRSP account and investments. You can manage your account online through mycanadalifeatwork.com or by phone at 1-800-724-3402 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm ET) . Canada Life is responsible for administering your Equity RRSP plan and sending your statements and contribution receipts directly to you.
Feedback or complaints about the service you receive from Canada Life can be sent to Equity’s Director of Finance & Administration, Jing Zhao, CPA, PLP (jing@caea.com).
Yes. Opening a Canada Life RRSP account is required as an Equity member. The agreements/policies set the minimum contribution amount of 6% of your working fees and there’s a variety of ways you can invest that money under the Equity plan.
Opening a RRSP account with Canada Life is a requirement of membership and failing to open your account means you will lose your contributions. Unclaimed RRSP contributions are donated to The AFC after one year.
Equity’s RRSP plan with Canada Life offers you eight different investment options. By logging into your My Canada Life account, you can take a survey to help you determine the right RRSP fund for you.
Contributions to an RRSP require a Social Insurance Number. Non-Canadian citizens who have worked in Canada for over a year and paid taxes in Canada can apply to service Canada for a temporary SIN, allowing them to contribute to an RRSP.
If you are an American citizen and member of Actors’ Equity Association (U.S.), you can transfer retirement funds, as per or reciprocal agreement. Other foreign artists who are not residents of Canada are not permitted to open RRSPs.
Contributions to an RRSP are only allowed until the end of the year a person turns 71. In the interest of protecting your privacy, Equity will not inform engagers when a member turns 71, which means an engager may continue to make RRSP deductions each time you work.
This leaves you with two options:
There are other important changes to your RRSP that you should be aware of once you’ve turned 71 years old. To find out more, please consult the Government of Canada or login to My Canada Life at Work.
The only way to be certain Equity knows about a problem is to tell us. Don’t just assume the Equity Liaison, stage manager, or someone else in the cast or crew will tell us. Contact your Business Rep directly with any questions or concerns you have, or send an email to busrep@caea.com and we’ll direct your questions to the appropriate staff. Not sure who your Business Rep is? Look them up by your Engager’s name here.
If you are on contract or considering an offer from a Theatre, you can click here to find your Equity Business Rep. Simply enter the name of the Theatre/Engager and you’ll see a list, sorted by province, with the applicable Business Rep’s name and contact info.
For general information about an agreement or engagement policy, please contact busrep@caea.com.
All of Equity’s collective agreements state deadlines for Equity to file a complaint with an Engager for an infraction. The Canadian Theatre Agreement/Independent Theatre Agreement, for example, requires Equity to bring forward any complaints within 90 days of the occurrence of a breach of your rights. Some agreements or policies may have different timelines so be sure to notify Equity as soon as possible! Resolving an issue is generally easier (and more helpful to you) if it’s done early (and in the workplace).
Yes! Sometimes an Equity member has to wear more than one hat when it comes to responsibilities. Many Equity members are writers, directors, and producers – and that might mean engaging other members. In these instances, your responsibilities are the same as any other Engager and Equity will expect you to meet those obligations.
Click here for more information about self-engaging and self-producing.
The short answer is yes. An Equity Liaison should be elected for most Equity projects, including those under an engagement policy. Even workshops and readings under the Canadian Theatre Agreement or Independent Theatre Agreement should have a Liaison, if they are longer than 2 days. An Equity Liaison serves as an important link between Equity and performers, stage managers and any other artist engaged on an Equity contract for a production. They are a valuable resource for advice and information.
Learn more about the responsibilities of an Equity Liaison here.
Room/Community Agreements can be a useful tool in the rehearsal hall. They are a communal statement of values – what the people involved in the project all agree to. It’s a touchstone for check-ins and a great reference should any issues happen.
The Engager is responsible for providing a safe and respectful workplace. The Engager should always have a health and safety plan as well as a Respectful Workplace Policy and they should always be shared with you. If they weren’t shared, you can always ask to see them.
Here are the definitions of inappropriate behaviour, as they appear in Equity’s Bylaws:
Abuse of Power
Use of official or vested authority to improperly disadvantage, discriminate, or harass a person, or to procure personal advantages for oneself.
Discrimination
The unfair or unequal treatment of a person on the basis of their protected personal characteristics or the Prohibited Grounds of Discrimination, as established in the Canadian Human Rights Act, and/or applicable provincial human rights legislation”.
Harassment
Any action, conduct, or comment, including of a sexual nature, that can reasonably be expected to cause offence, humiliation, or physical or psychological injury or illness. Though harassment is generally behaviour that persists over time, serious individual incidents may also be considered harassment.
Reprisal
Any action, or threat, that is intended as retaliation for claiming or enforcing a right under the Association’s Bylaws, or negotiated or promulgated agreements.
Unprofessional Behaviour
Any workplace behaviour not otherwise specified in Bylaw 67 that would reasonably be regarded as inappropriate and unprofessional within the context of a professional live performance workplace. Such behaviour includes, but is not limited to:
(i) intoxication (of any sort) while at work;
(ii) disregard for member safety or dignity in the workplace; and
(iii) theft of personal property.
Violence
Actions, conduct, threats or gestures that can be reasonably expected to cause harm, injury, or illness. Violence can include verbal threats, abuse, or intimidation.
Equity’s Bylaws list Abuse of Power, Discrimination, Harassment, Reprisal, Unprofessional Behaviour, and Violence as types of inappropriate behaviour. Inappropriate behaviour can be cause for action if it violates Equity’s agreements, Bylaws, or Standards of Professional Conduct – not to mention federal or provincial labour laws. And it doesn’t have to be repetitive behaviour before taking action.
Tell the Engager. It’s their responsibility to prevent inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, and failing that, their job to investigate the matter and take appropriate action should it occur. Addressing your concerns with the Engager while the production is still going on is the best way to resolve an issue. If you’re unsure of who to speak to or how the process works, you can always consult the Engager’s anti-harassment policy, ask the Equity Liaison or the stage manager, or contact Equity for help.
Not in OUR Space! is an anti-harassment and respectful workplace campaign developed by Equity to promote awareness and provide education for everyone working on a production, from artists to Engagers. It aims to:
It’s always best to address an issue as soon as possible – to restore a healthy, positive workplace where artists can thrive creatively and professionally.
Sometimes. Under the Canadian Theatre Agreement/Independent Theatre Agreement, theatres with more than 2 productions in a season are required to hold at least 2 days of general auditions. It promotes hiring new voices and talent, and encourages more opportunities for performers who identify as being historically underrepresented and marginalized.
Yes. The Canadian Theatre Agreement/Independent Theatre Agreement has a limit of 3 auditions — 1 hour each. In the case of musicals, the total audition time is limited to 4 hours. Anything more than that and you’re owed money.
Yes. Under the Canadian Theatre Agreement/Independent Theatre Agreement, Equity members have to be given the opportunity to be seen ahead of non-members for open calls. Of course, priority for open calls does not necessarily mean every Equity member will be given an opportunity to be seen. If you believe that this provision of the collective agreement is not being respected, please contact the Equity Business Rep for the appropriate Theatre.
Cast by Consent is a provision in Equity’s agreements that obliges an Engager to provide information about the production in advance. This is particularly important if the project deals with issues of violence, trauma, or underrepresented groups, or if it may intersect with a performer’s individual identity or reinforce harmful or demeaning identity stereotypes. Cast by Consent ensures you have an opportunity to discuss concerns before accepting an offer.
Equity’s agreements include language that promotes more inclusive casting. While it’s entirely up to the Engager to decide what types of productions they choose to program, our agreements require equal opportunity casting and a commitment to anti-oppression and inclusion — advocating for practices that reflect the wide diversity of performance, processes, bodies, and identities in our society.
Artists who identify with underrepresented groups must be actively consulted regarding their hair, makeup, wardrobe or use of culturally- or identity-specific items in the production. Article 10 in the Canadian Theatre Agreement/Independent Theatre Agreement relates to access, inclusion and anti-oppression in the workplace.
The fees set out in Equity’s agreements are minimums — meaning that’s the lowest rate you can be contracted for. You always have the right to negotiate for above minimum! You can also negotiate for other benefits besides higher fees. Learn more about negotiating above minimums here.
Yes. Equity’s agreements include specific timelines for receiving your contract prior to the start of your engagement. In some cases, there might also be a specific amount of time after getting an offer that the Engager has to deliver your contract. These clauses can be really helpful in planning your year.
The Engager should always sign the contract before the Artist. Until the Engager signs it, the contract they send you is not completed and isn’t a valid offer.
If a Theatre wants to extend an Artist’s contract without an option in place or without giving the required notice, the Artist has the right to negotiate the terms and conditions of the extension. An Artist also has the right to refuse an extension.
Equity’s PDF contracts don’t require a digital or handwritten signature. By checking the box and typing your name, the contract is considered valid. In fact, the text box for typing your name will block any signature image you add there — so if you’re going to add it, put it beside the text box!
Sort of. You can terminate your contract, but you may be required to pay the Engager if you do so. Speak to your Equity Business Rep before taking any action.
OT rates are available in all of Equity’s agreements, though it’s often referred to as Additional TimeThe amounts vary from agreement to agreement – sometimes it’s a flat amount, sometimes a percentage. But no matter what, if you work longer than the allotted hours, you’re owed overtime/Additional Time. For calculating and invoicing Additional Time under the Canadian Theatre Agreement or Independent Theatre Agreement, check out our invoicing tool here.
Equity’s Stage Management Committee has created downloadable timesheets to help SMs track their work hours, calculate overtime and penalty payments, and calculate Employment Standards overtime across Canada. Visit the SM Timesheets & OT section to learn more.
An Artist should not work on a project prior to the first day of rehearsal without being paid. If you’re provided with a recording of a past production, you should ask if the company expects you to learn blocking, lines, music or choreography before the start of rehearsals.
You may be paid for your wardrobe fitting if it happens outside the time prescribed or if it takes longer than the time allowed under the applicable agreement.
No. An Engager cannot ask you to record new promotional material to use on social media. They can use recordings of a rehearsal or performance under certain circumstances, but anything other than that needs to be on an ACTRA contract and paid ACTRA rates.
No. Archival Recordings have a very strict definition in Equity’s agreements and limit to what it can be used for. Those include accessibility needs, publicity, educational use, and more. But it doesn’t allow an Engager to give a performer an Archival Recording to help them learn their role or understudy track. Check out our Recordings guide for more information.
No. Under the Canadian Theatre Agreement/Independent Theatre Agreement, if you need to leave your home to take a contract, the Theatre is not required to pay for your housing. They are, however, required to give you a list of 3 available housing options in different price ranges at least 6 weeks before you travel. The Theatre is also required to provide detailed information, such as the size, distance to the rehearsal hall/performance venue, photos of what’s included, and more.
It’s the Artist’s responsibility to inform an Engager of any accessibility needs they have prior to the Engager arranging housing. And it’s the Engager’s responsibility to accommodate accessibility needs, including paying the difference between the average cost of housing options and the cost of accessible housing.
Under the Canadian Theatre Agreement/Independent Theatre Agreement, an Engager can ask you to use your personal computer, but they must pay you $25 per week for use — or more, if you negotiate a greater amount.
No. According to Equity’s agreements and engagement policies, Engagers must pay the Artist directly. It’s then up to you, as the Artist, to provide your agent with their commission.
Some Equity contracts (i.e. Canadian Theatre Agreement, Independent Theatre Agreement, and INDIE) contain ‘Exclusive Service’ provisions. This means, you may need to get written permission from your Engager to accept any other work during the span of your contract – even on the scheduled Free Day. Speak to your Equity Business Rep if you have any questions.
As an independent contractor, you may have to register to collect sales tax on your contracts. The federal government requires you to collect GST/HST if you earn more than $30,000 from all self-employed income “over four consecutive calendar quarters,” though you may also choose to register voluntarily even if you earn less. Ask an accountant if you are required to collect GST/HST or if it might be in your best interest to do so.
An Engager should include a breakdown of all the things you are being paid for and all the deductions that were made. How else are you supposed to keep track of your accounting? Contracted fee, GST/HST, and rental of your personal laptop paid? Check, check, check. Insurance premium and working dues deducted? Check and check.
Deductions for RRSP contributions, insurance premiums (which vary depending on the type of production), and working dues should be automatically made by the Engager. What’s not deducted (from most Artists’ cheques) are income taxes. You’ll need to put that aside yourself. The joys of being an independent contractor…
An ‘insurance top-up’ is an amount the Engager pays to ensure an Artist is insured when they work a partial engagement week. Let’s say you’re hired to do a one-day reading of a new play. The Engager will “top up” your fees, adding a portion of the weekly premium that covers the days you didn’t work and then they’ll deduct the full weekly premium. That way you aren’t paying for insurance on the days you didn’t work – only the one day that you did!
A long, long time ago, insurance and retirement contributions were made directly by the Engager. It was then decided that having an “employer” make these contributions may make it seem (to the folks at the Canadian Revenue Agency) like you were an “employee”. So, the Engager’s insurance and retirement contributions were rolled into the working fees (with a comparable increase!) so Artists could make their own contributions. It’s not as much fun seeing it as a deduction on your paycheque, but we like to always remember, technically, the Engager is still footing the bill.
The easiest way is to look at your Equity contract. The name of the agreement or engagement policy should be at the top. If you haven’t received a contract yet and are trying to find out information about an offer, just confirm with the Engager which agreement or engagement policy it will be under. In the case of the Canadian Theatre Agreement and Independent Theatre Agreement, you may also want to confirm the Company Category – which will determine the minimum fees for the contract.
Both agreements and policies protect your rights, setting out minimum rates and working conditions. Collective Agreements are negotiated with Engagers or an Engagers’ association and must be agreed to by both parties. Engagement Policies are created by Equity and are updated independently to reflect the evolving needs of the membership and their work.
The Independent Theatre Agreement is a mirror copy of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, aside from the following differences:
References to PACT do not appear in the ITA, including their involvement in the administration of the agreement, joint determination, and participation in a Joint Article 10 Committee
No! While both collective agreements and the Bylaws lay out your rights and responsibilities, they are still very different.
The Bylaws are a set of rules established by members, for members. They describe how someone can join Equity, what rights you are entitled to as a member, and your obligations to the Association.
Equity’s collective agreements are negotiated documents that establish the engager’s obligations on a production and your responsibilities while working on it. It’s good to know both!
Equity has a wide variety of small-scale and festival engagement policies with significantly reduced rates and administrative requirements. These agreements make creating your own production infinitely easier, encouraging the development of work opportunities and exciting new projects.
Yes! Members are always welcome to submit ideas for changes and improvements to Equity’s collective agreements and engagement policies by emailing agreements@caea.com. If you are proposing a revision to a specific clause, please include the clause number.
Equity also sends out a general call for proposals ahead of the bargaining period for a new collective agreement.
All suggestions are confidential.
Members form an integral part of the bargaining team (along with staff) because their experience and expertise working under the agreement is crucial to the process. And of course, members who aren’t on the negotiating committee are always welcome to submit ideas for proposals.
Equity is a member-driven organization. Members elect their regional representatives to a national Council and the Council determines the objectives of the Association. There’s staff support for initiatives, but ultimately, it’s members that decide what they want Equity to be!
Equity members have access to informative videos to help provide guidance on a range of topics. A tax seminar for professional arts workers, how grassroots lobbying works, the best way to ensure a safe and respectable workplace – they’re all available to you online.
Equity holds a national membership meeting every year. Council and staff report on the state of the Association’s finances, all the important initiatives of the past year, and what new obstacles and opportunities are on the horizon. Then we take questions on anything and everything. As a member, it’s in your interest to take an interest in the workings of your Association!
Login to your myEquity account to access past NAGM materials.
Equity has a reciprocal agreement with a number of other arts associations and unions. Whether it’s in Canada (ACTRA, UdA) or in the U.S. (AEA), these reciprocal agreements recognize the professional standards of Equity members and provide you with access to greater work opportunities in other jurisdictions.
Equity, ACTRA, and UDA share a common purpose: each negotiates agreements that set minimum pay and working conditions for artists, advocates on issues affecting their members, and is governed by its membership.
We differ, however, in our jurisdictions, membership requirements, collective agreements, benefit structures, and more.
Because Equity has a responsibility to advocate for sustainable funding in the not-for-profit live performance sector and encourage public policy initiatives that promote artistic activities. Equity’s advocacy efforts focus on creating work opportunities for members and ensuring the needs and realities of artists working in live performance are always considered by the Canadian government.
The Live Performance Industry Coalition is comprised of IATSE, the Canadian Federation of Musicians, the Associated Designers of Canada, and Equity. Together, these organizations advocate for policy changes that positively impact workers in Canada’s live performance sector.
FIA is the International Federation of Actors, a global federation of performers’ trade unions, guilds, and professional associations that advocates on issues that impact the working lives of professional artists. Equity is among the 90 members of FIA, representing more than 60 countries around the world. Sharing perspectives and ideas and working collectively is the best way to accomplish more for all of us!
Have questions or need more information?
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