Canadian unions protest funding cuts

October 08, 2008 Canadian film and TV unions and producers on Wednesday staged countrywide protests over federal arts funding cuts just days before a national election. "Culture is an economic engine that contributes 1.1 million (direct and indirect) jobs in this country," Richard Hardacre, national president of Canadian actors union ACTRA, said at a rally in Toronto. The cuts have hit taxpayer-funded programs that enable Canadian artists and producers to attend international festivals and markets to showcase and sell their wares.

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