Ontario government promising $45-million grant program to help music industry

TORONTO – Ontario’s governing Liberals are promising to create a music grant program in Thursday’s budget.

They plan to spend $45 million in new money over three years, starting this year.

They say the provincewide grant program would support digital and record production and distribution of Canadian music.

The Liberals say it will promote Ontario’s music industry in Canada and overseas and bring more business to Ontario.

It’s the latest in a series of pre-budget announcements by the minority Liberals, who need the support of one other party to pass the budget.

The Progressive Conservatives have already said they’ll vote against the budget, so the Liberals need the NDP onside to avoid an election.