NDP, Bloc Set To Protest Harper Arts Cuts

Montreal Museum Of Fine Arts

From the CBC:

Two opposition leaders are set to take aim at Conservative Leader Stephen Harper over his government's move to cut funding to the arts by $45 million, as they campaign on Tuesday for the Oct. 14 election.

NDP Leader Jack Layton will be in Quebec City to make an announcement on arts funding. After a stop at a cultural centre in Drummondville, Que., he will attend an evening concert featuring artists in Montreal protesting Harper's arts cuts.

The cuts have "certainly raised the ire of artists everywhere, but specifically in Quebec," said the CBC's Julie Van Dusen.

"So tonight we are expecting that many politicians and certainly hundreds of artists will be converging in Montreal … to urge Stephen Harper to reverse the cuts."

The NDP leader's appearance comes a day after Layton appeared to backtrack after hinting in a television interview early Monday that he would be willing to form a coalition with the Liberals to prevent Harper from forming a government.

Peppered by reporters following the interview on CTV's Canada AM, Layton said he has a proven history of working with other parties and would be happy to continue that tradition as prime minister. But he added he would work with the Parliament Canadians elected.

Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe will also attend the concert and protest in Montreal.

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