Everyone loves a protest, right? Dan Goldman, of Snowblink and Luxury Pond, just forwarded us a note saying that there's going to be a march tomorrow from 6pm to 8pm to protest the recent cuts to the Canada Council. The march starts at the CBC building and ends at Nathan Phillips Square with a set by the Element Choir. Here's the full press release..

Toronto Musicians, Arts Supporters Protest Recent Cuts to Canada Council. City Council to vote on motion of endorsement.

On Monday, November 26th, Toronto-area musicians, artists, and arts supporters will take to the streets to raise awareness regarding recent cuts made by the federal government. Heritage Minister, James Moore recently announced that 1.3 million dollars from the Canada Music Fund’s annual budget would be redirected away from the Canada Council. This has resulted in the cancellation of the CCA’s Music Diversity Program, which, for the past 20 years, has provided integral support for recording and marketing to artists who are on the forefront of forging new, innovative and distinctly Canadian culture.

The protest, organized by arts advocacy group Cutting the Album, will assemble at 6pm outside the Front Street entrance of the CBC Broadcast Centre (250 Front St. West), and depart at 6:15 pm, walking a downtown route (see exact route below) to raise awareness. Stops along the way will include performances by local musicians, including Christine Duncan’s Element Choir, and special guest speakers from the local music community. Also in attendance will be Andrew Cash, on behalf of NDP culture critic Charlie Angus, who will be speaking regarding the current heritage committee hearing, which is taking place in Ottawa to look into why those most impacted by these cuts were not included in the consultation process. Organizers will be collecting written statements and deputations to send for inclusion in this hearing. Volunteers will also be on hand to collect signatures for a petition which has already received over 5800 signatures.

On Tuesday, October 27, Toronto City Councillor Adam Vaughan will bring a motion of endorsement to council, seconded by Mayor David Miller.

Cutting the Album is calling upon anyone with an interest in the arts, to join in calling upon Stephen Harper and his Conservative government to commit to meaningful dialogue with the Canadian artistic community, to engage in a fair, transparent, and inclusive consultation process, and to renew support for arts and culture in Canada.

Here's the route:

6pm meet at CBC

6:15 process on John to Roy Thompson Hall (speech here)

6:40 process along King to Peter, then Peter to Queen, stop at the Lush store on queen and give a speech

7:05 Queen to Yonge and up to Dundas for speeches there

7:25 Dundas to Bay and down to Queen to Nathan Phillips Square

7:40 Speech and Element Choir