Outraged film and television actors defended their industry as a viable economic entity on Wednesday, while taking shots at Prime Minister Stephen Harper for suggesting that ordinary Canucks don’t care about arts funding.

About 20 notable thesps gathered at an ACTRA press conference at CBC headquarters in Toronto, alongside union president Richard Hardacre, to blast the Conservatives’ $45 million in cuts to arts and culture spending, and their attempt to censor films and TV shows with Bill C-10.

The conference turned angry as actors responded to Harper’s controversial comments Tuesday at a campaign stop in Saskatoon where, following remarks against ‘ivory tower’ intellectuals, the PM said that TV viewers don’t want to see ‘rich galas all subsidized by taxpayers.’

‘If we look at other G8 leaders, we’d be hard-pressed to find another leader that would talk with such ignorance and disdain of their cultural community,’ said actor Raoul Bhaneja (Ararat, Cold Creek Manor) during the presentation, adding he was ‘shocked’ by Harper’s comments.

Veteran thesp Art Hindle — whose recent TV credits include Paradise Falls, MVP and Tom Stone — further dispelled the PM’s comments that culture only benefits the cultural elite, saying he is an ‘ordinary person in an extraordinary industry called show business.’

ACTRA also put forth some numbers, noting that the arts contribute $85 billion and one million jobs to the Canadian economy each year.

While most of the retort was directed at the Tories, actor Colm Feore insisted that the union is not choosing one party over another, adding that the Liberals also have a bad track record when it comes to commitment to arts and culture.

‘We’re challenging Mr. Harper today because he’s the one that’s said the most idiotic things in the last 24 hours,’ the Bon Cop, Bad Cop star told Playback Daily after the presentation.

‘I think he’s made a gross miscalculation about ordinary Canadians… I hope that they will tell him so,’ he added.

The roster of activist/actors and tone of the event recalled the reaction earlier this year against Bill C-10, though lingering sore feelings over the now-dead censor bill took a backseat to the Tories’ more recent cuts to arts funding. The bill was killed with the election call.

Among the young artists at the presser, 21-year-old Michael Seater (Life with Derek) said he is concerned for the future of an industry in which he has just begun to make his mark.

‘I’m worried… I’m wondering if we’re just going to continue on this slippery slope and that there won’t be an industry left for me and my peers,’ he said, adding that he is still undecided, but will vote strategically in hope of preventing a Conservative majority.

Other actors at the conference included Gordon Pinsent (Away from Her), Maury Chaykin (Less Than Kind) and Chris Potter (Heartland).