Dear artists: Screw you.

(CC NEWS) -- In a move designed to curry favour with people struggling to start their own businesses, Stephen Harper announced a $2,000 bonus for apprenticeship grads, describing skilled tradespersons as the backbone of the Canadian economy and an essential part of its future.

When asked if the same bonus could be made available to artists who are directly responsible for a large part of Canada's economy as well, Harper promptly spit on the reporter who asked the question, then responded, "Fucking artists, bunch of leeches, worthless socialist cocksuckers," then proceeded to club a sidewalk portrait painter to death with a live puppy.