Deputy Premier Paul Robichaud met with New Brunswick film producers April 26 to discuss the cancellation of the film tax credit and what a new credit might look like. (CBC)

Film producers say they are cautiously optimistic after meeting with Economic Development Minister and Deputy Premier Paul Robichaud about the government decision to cut the film tax credit in the March budget.

Since then producers have protested the decision, with many saying they would leave the province and move their businesses and their employees elsewhere.

After a meeting on April 26, Maurice Aubin, a director and producer with Mozus Productions in Moncton and president of New Brunswick's Film Producers' Association, said producers are hopeful.

"I think they realized they made a mistake," Aubin said. "The sense that it was having a greater impact than just the economic impact and it was having an impact on the cultural vitality."

Old model had problems

Aubin said the film tax credit that existed until March was criticized because the money was sometimes used to pay people from outside of New Brunswick.

"That was criticized quite heavily and I think there was certain productions...that needed more outside production people than others and they were severely criticized."

Robichaud confirmed on Monday that is his concern, saying it doesn't make sense for people in New Brunswick to pay taxes to subsidize the salaries of people from elsewhere.

Robichaud promised the new digital media tax credit is coming and said there would be consultations with people in the film industry before it is announced.

Aubin is hoping the province will review the old model and come up with a new tax incentive quickly.

"It's one thing to say that we're going to create a new credit...for this industry but what does that represent? What does that mean?" Aubin said. "Until we read something written in black and white on a piece of paper that stipulates exactly what this represents, I really can't tell because the consultation hasn't been done yet."