Canadian artists from a range of disciplines called on federal politicians to support the country's cultural sector as the election campaign heads into its final six days.

Wednesday's rally in Toronto came one day after Conservative Leader Stephen Harper backed off a government policy that could allowed the govern to withhold funding of films if the final product was deemed to be offensive.

Writer-performer Mark McKinney, best known for his work with the "Kids in the Hall" comedy troupe, told CTV Toronto that while he welcomed the backtracking, "but this was a problem of (Harper's) own making, so I can't really credit him for that."

The arts community criticized the policy contained in Bill C-10 as leading to possible censorship of films.

However, McKinney said it was also important to restore the arts funding cut this summer by the Conservative government.

The government cut $45 million in arts program funding. The reaction has been particularly negative in Quebec, where artists have furiously lobbied against the Tories.    

However, Harper has continued to defend the cuts.

"On culture, yes we reduced some programs, but so we could spend on other things where we're getting bigger bang for our buck," Harper told CTV's Lloyd Robertson on Tuesday.

For example, the Conservatives announced a $150 million program on Sept. 29 to make a tax deduction available to parents for their children's music lessons.

Before the election, the Tories announced about $370 million in help for the auto sector. Harper unveiled more help for manufacturing and aerospace when he released his party's platform on Tuesday in Toronto.

McKinney said Canadians should know this country supports a thriving film and television industry.

"We really have an opportunity to not just grow, but explode, in terms of our success as a producer in this country," he said.

"But a critical part of that pipeline is that we need the funding for the theatres, we need to have our actors trained, because you have to have great actors when you're doing the more commercial stuff," he said.

Writers and production workers such as cameramen and lighting technicians all get their start working in smaller, less commercially viable shows and venues, he said.

Canadians -- especially Conservative supporters -- should also understand that the arts are a real industry in Canada, McKinney said.

"I'm hoping that Mr. Harper will have a change of heart and stop thinking of us as these effete poets that live in garrets," he said.

"It's not that at all. We're big. We're big like softwood. So get behind us, advocate for us. Be like Gov. (Arnold) Schwarzenegger in California and defend us. ... We'll bring home profits and we'll support all the arts when that happens."

With a report from CTV Toronto's Jacintha Wesselingh