Tiga: UK lacks Canadaâ??s decisiveness on Tax

British game industry association Tiga has responded to today’s news that a third key province in Canada will introduce game development tax breaks.

The group’s CEO, Richard Wilson, said that the move demonstrates Canada’s “imagination and decisiveness."

Said Wilson: “Imagination, because they understand that video game development is an industry of the future that needs a friendly fiscal regime if it is to prosper in an intensely competitive world.

“Decisive, because they are taking action, rather than just talking.”

The UK has for months flirted with the idea of national game development tax breaks, only to rebuff the industry’s advances at the last minute.

Wilson praised British Columbia’s stomach in implementing tax incentives as the world tip-toes out of economic despair. The region will provide 15 to 17.5 per cent tax relief on production and labour costs.

“UK politicians need to demonstrate similar imagination and decisiveness if the UK video games industry and other creative sectors are to realise their full potential,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tiga CEO (and Rebellion CEO) Jason Kingsley urged Brown’s government to “pay attention to developments elsewhere in the world.”

[TIMELINE: UK TAX BREAKS]