Discussion · Oral Questions
Martin Champoux Bloc Québécois
“Quebec television needs steady funding from American streaming platforms to survive. A one-time payment of $600 million is not enough, and a future government could just cancel it. I want the government to follow the law and bring back the fees on these streaming companies.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is the kind of answer we got in June. We will say it again, and we will say it every time. There is no future for Quebec television without a fair share of funding from American online streaming platforms. It is not possible to replace the long-term contribution from the tech giants, which is protected by the Broadcasting Act, with a one-time payment of $600 million that any government could cancel, depending on the mood of the day. It is irresponsible and even illegal. The government is acting as though we are still in the 1990s. Will the government respect its own law, its own word, and ask the CRTC to reinstate the levies?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, that is the kind of answer we got in June. We will say it again, and we will say it every time. There is no future for Quebec television without a fair share of funding from American online streaming platforms. It is not possible to replace the long-term contribution from the tech giants, which is protected by the Broadcasting Act, with a one-time payment of $600 million that any government could cancel, depending on the mood of the day. It is irresponsible and even illegal. The government is acting as though we are still in the 1990s. Will the government respect its own law, its own word, and ask the CRTC to reinstate the levies?