Protesters worry new laws will threaten Saskatoon music venues

A group made signs for their protest on Broadway Saturday afternoon. The group was concered new laws could threaten Saskatoon's music scene.

The 30th Annual Broadway Street Fair took over the quaint shopping district Saturday afternoon.

There was the usual food, shopping, and entertainment, but the street was also the grounds for a protest.

A small group gathered outside of what once was Lydia’s to protest the inclusion of touring musical acts as foreign workers under the temporary foreign workers act. The change came into play on July 31.

The new mainly affect smaller venues like restaurants and bars. They now need to pay $275 per non-Canadian working in their venue. This includes musicians and any support staff they’re touring with. Venues that exist primarily to present music are exempt from the rule.

The group out Saturday was worried the new rules would affect the music scene in Saskatoon.

"Places like Amigos and Vangelis, Broadway... that's what Broadway is about, are going to be hit really hard by this outrageous fee. That makes no sense,” said protest organizer Amanda Hawkins.

At one point before the protest began festival organizers intervened and asked the group to leave, however, the issue was eventually resolved and the march went on as planned.