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 log in and 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.
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.
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, 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.
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.
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!
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
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, 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.
Have questions or need more information?
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