TORONTO (CP) -- ACTRA, the Canadian actors' union, says it fully supports a blunt criticism of CTV that actor Bruce Greenwood made while being interviewed by the network.

 Greenwood, long known as an outspoken performer, was on CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday morning discussing his new TV movie The Life, which the broadcaster is airing Sunday night.

Near the end of the interview, Greenwood accused CTV of failing to adequately promote and schedule the film, which deals with a policeman's struggle with the drug problem in Vancouver's downtown east side.

 "CTV chose to bury it on a holiday weekend where it's not going to be seen," he said.

Greenwood explained that there is a view that only U.S. programming will bring in ratings and "so they make it a self-fulfilling prophecy by burying the Canadian programming."

 The president of ACTRA Toronto, Richard Hardacre, said it was a brave thing for Greenwood to "tell a Canadian broadcaster to its face that it's not doing enough. He deserves our support and solidarity."

But late Thursday, CTV issued a statement declaring it wanted to set the record straight.

"We believe in quality Canadian programming and work extremely hard to develop, promote and properly schedule them," says the statement, distributed by the network's programming communications director Mike Cosentino.

"The Life is enjoying a massive multi-level promotional campaign that includes extensive on-air, print and publicity components." The statement went on to say CTV was confident that the Sunday night scheduling of "this fine movie" will deliver the optimum audience.

Canoe.com