Canadian leaders wrangle over arts funding

TORONTO, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Federal election campaigning in Canada has brought Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cuts to arts funding under fire.

Tuesday, while scattered across the country, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion and socialist New Democrat Party leader Jack Layton accused Harper of being contemptuous of the arts in light of his cut of $45 million to federal funding, the Toronto Star reported.

In Vancouver, Dion challenged Harper's assertion that artists are privileged, saying their average wage is $23,000 a year.

In Quebec City, Layton said the NDP would reinstate the funding and predicted a Conservative majority government would privatize the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., the report said.

In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Harper dismissed the criticisms, saying he increased the overall budget at the Department of Canadian Heritage by 8 percent but had to trim some funding.

"Ordinary people understand we have to live within a budget," he said.

The federal election is scheduled for Oct. 14.