Did Stephen Harper's arts cutbacks deny him a majority?

Stephen Harper's Conservatives may have lost a chance at a majority government because of his attacks on the arts.

Harper has fallen short of his goal of winning more seats in Quebec despite  supporting the province being declared as a nation.  

One of the turning points in the Conservative campaign came when Harper described arts advocates as promoting a "niche" issue.

The Conservatives were repeatedly criticized for cutting $45 million from arts programs. Under Harper, the federal government slashed  the PromArts, Trade Routes, and Capacity Building programs, as well as the Stabilization Projects and film and television funds.

That prompted a huge public uproar in Quebec, bolstering the Bloc Quebecois campaign and perhaps robbing Harper of a majority.