Ontario Creates
Ontario Creates is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario that administers tax credits, grants, and investment programs across five creative industry verticals: book publishing, film and television, interactive digital media, magazine publishing, and music. It serves Ontario-based creators, publishers, producers, and music entrepreneurs at no cost.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ontario Creates does
Ontario Creates is a Crown corporation of the Province of Ontario, Canada, established under the Development Corporations Act in 2003 (originally as the Ontario Media Development Corporation, rebranded in 2016) to serve as the province's principal catalyst for economic development in the creative industries. The agency administers a portfolio of tax credit programs and investment funds across five verticals: book publishing, film and television, interactive digital media, magazine publishing, and music. Its mandate is to promote, encourage, and stimulate investment and job creation in Ontario's cultural media cluster, accountable to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport with a provincially appointed Board of Directors.
Ontario Creates operates a digital-first platform stack anchored by the Online Application Portal (OAP) at apply.ontariocreates.ca, which handles secure submissions for all funding programs and tax credit claims. Supporting digital products include the Digital Library (housing the Ontario Film Commission's Reel Scout location database and Ontario Green Screen materials), the Online Research Library of industry intelligence, and the Ontario Film Commission service for location scouting and production facilitation. The agency supplements digital channels with industry-facing business initiatives including the Digital Dialogue discussion series, IP Market Day, and the International Financing Forum, designed to connect Ontario creative companies with international partners and investors.
Ontario Creates is not a commercially revenue-generating entity; rather, it functions as a government funding organization that provides grants, tax credits, and investment programs to Ontario's creative industries at no cost to applicants. Its operations are funded through provincial appropriations, and its 'customers' are Ontario-based creators, publishers, producers, and music entrepreneurs who apply for tax credit and grant support. The Strategic Plan 2023-2027 titled 'Powering Ontario's Creative Economy,' developed with input from over 700 stakeholders, guides the agency's current mandate and program priorities.
Ontario Creates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ontario Creates
- Legal name
- Ontario Creates
- Website
- https://ontariocreates.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Ontario Creates is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario that administers tax credits, grants, and investment programs across five creative industry verticals: book publishing, film and television, interactive digital media, magazine publishing, and music. It serves Ontario-based creators, publishers, producers, and music entrepreneurs at no cost.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ontario Creates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Creative Industry Funding
- NAICS
- Administration of Economic Programs (926), Public Finance Activities (92113)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Revenue Systems, E-Filing & Digital Tax Administration (BPAIADAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Tax Return Filing, Processing & Assessment (BPAIADAC)
Keywords
Where Ontario Creates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ontario Creates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Ontario Creates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ontario Creates is a Crown corporation of the Province of Ontario that administers provincial tax credits (OBPTC, OFTTC, OPSTC, OCASE, OIDMTC), grant funding through sector-specific funds (Book Fund, Film Fund, Interactive Digital Media Fund, Magazine Fund, Ontario Music Investment Fund), and investment programs across Ontario's creative industries. It operates the Online Application Portal (OAP) for processing grant and tax credit applications, the Digital Library including the Ontario Film Commission's Reel Scout location database, and an Online Research Library providing industry intelligence. The agency also delivers the Ontario Film Commission, the Ontario Music Office, and business initiatives such as the International Financing Forum, IP Market Day, and Digital Dialogue discussion series.
Product overview
Ontario Creates is a Crown corporation agency of the Government of Ontario that functions as the province's principal catalyst for economic development in the creative industries. It does not offer a single unified software product; rather, it operates a multi-sector portfolio of funding programs, tax credit administration services, and digital platforms organized around five creative industry sectors: Book Publishing, Film & Television, Interactive Digital Media, Magazine Publishing, and Music. Its core digital products are the Online Application Portal (OAP) for grant and tax credit applications, the Digital Library (including the Ontario Film Commission's Reel Scout location database), and the Online Research Library. These are complemented by sector-specific investment programs (content creation funds, business development funds, international development programs, industry development programs, and marketing promotion funds) and business initiatives including the International Financing Forum, IP Market Day, and Digital Dialogue discussion series. Ontario Creates' Strategic Plan for 2023–2027, titled 'Powering Ontario's Creative Economy,' guides the agency's mandate to drive business growth, investment, and international interest in Ontario's screen, publishing, and music industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ontario Film Commission: Film commission division providing location services, production support, and location scouting for film and television productions in Ontario.
Products and services
- Online Application Portal (OAP)
- Digital Library
- Online Research Library
- Ontario Film Commission
- Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit (OBPTC)
- Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit (OFTTC)
- Ontario Production Services Tax Credit (OPSTC)
- Ontario Computer Animation & Special Effects Tax Credit (OCASE)
- Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC)
- Book Fund
- Film Fund
Companies that use Ontario Creates
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Ontario Creates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ontario Creates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Ontario Creates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Telefilm Canada: Federal cultural agency funding Canadian film, television, and digital media. Comparable in sector focus and program administration; provides national-level film funding and promotion alongside provincial agencies.
- Canada Media Fund (CMF): Federal funding agency supporting Canadian content creation for television and digital media. Operates at a national level with complementary (not duplicative) mandate versus Ontario Creates' provincial focus; comparable in program delivery model and sector focus on screen-based content.
Direct peers
- Creative BC: British Columbia's provincial Crown agency administering tax credits, funding programs, and industry development for the screen and interactive digital media sectors. Closest jurisdictional peer to Ontario Creates with analogous mandate and program structure.
- SODEC (Société de développement des entreprises culturelles): Quebec's provincial cultural enterprise development agency administering tax credits and investment programs across film, television, music, publishing, and digital media. Direct counterpart with a broader sector mandate including book and music publishing.
Others
- FACTOR (Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings): Canadian private-sector music funding body. Comparable in providing grants and investment to Ontario's music industry alongside Ontario Creates' Ontario Music Investment Fund; complementary not competing.
- CMPA (Canadian Media Producers Association): National industry association representing Canadian independent media producers. While not an economic development agency, it directly interfaces with Ontario Creates programs on behalf of the film/TV producer community and shapes policy advocacy.
- Canadian Film Centre (CFC): Toronto-based film and media training and development organization, though focused on talent development rather than tax credit administration. Adjacent ecosystem participant that complements Ontario Creates' mandate.
Regional players
- Manitoba Film & Music: Manitoba's combined film commission and music industry development agency administering provincial tax credits and production support. Comparable provincial peer focused on screen content and music industry development.
- Creative Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan's provincial cultural agency offering book, film, music, and digital media funding programs. Regional peer with similar multi-sector mandate but smaller scale and budget than Ontario Creates.
- Alberta Film and Television Tax Credit: Alberta's provincial film/TV tax credit program administered through the Alberta Media Fund. Competes with Ontario for North American production spend via a 22-26% refundable tax credit on eligible production costs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ontario Creates social profiles
Digital presenceOntario Creates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ontario Creates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Ontario Creates subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Ontario Creates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ontario Creates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ontario Creates
What does Ontario Creates do?
Ontario Creates is a Crown corporation of the Province of Ontario that administers provincial tax credits (OBPTC, OFTTC, OPSTC, OCASE, OIDMTC), grant funding through sector-specific funds (Book Fund, Film Fund, Interactive Digital Media Fund, Magazine Fund, Ontario Music Investment Fund), and investment programs across Ontario's creative industries. It operates the Online Application Portal (OAP) for processing grant and tax credit applications, the Digital Library including the Ontario Film Commission's Reel Scout location database, and an Online Research Library providing industry intelligence. The agency also delivers the Ontario Film Commission, the Ontario Music Office, and business initiatives such as the International Financing Forum, IP Market Day, and Digital Dialogue discussion series.
Is Ontario Creates a public or private company?
Ontario Creates is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Ontario Creates founded?
Ontario Creates was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Ontario Creates based?
Ontario Creates is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
Who are Ontario Creates's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Telefilm Canada and Canada Media Fund (CMF). Direct peers are Creative BC and SODEC (Société de développement des entreprises culturelles). Others are FACTOR (Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings), CMPA (Canadian Media Producers Association) and Canadian Film Centre (CFC). Regional players are Manitoba Film & Music, Creative Saskatchewan and Alberta Film and Television Tax Credit.
Does Ontario Creates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ontario Creates.
What industry is Ontario Creates in?
Ontario Creates's product category is Government Creative Industry Funding. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIADAO, Revenue Systems, E-Filing & Digital Tax Administration, with a secondary code of BPAIADAC, Tax Return Filing, Processing & Assessment. Its NAICS code is 926 and its SIC code is 8700.