Discussion · Government Orders
Patrick Bonin Bloc Québécois
“Web giants make billions of dollars in Canada. The government should make them pay into our culture sector instead of using taxpayers' money. Other countries make them pay, and it does not raise prices for users. I want the government to explain why it will not make these companies pay.”
“Mr. Speaker, we should remember that web giants, the billionaires such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, make $4 billion in profits in Canada. Instead of imposing levies on those who rake in billions of dollars in profits, the government is proposing to take Canadians’ money, $600 million, and invest it in culture. The government has not yet paid that out; the sector is still waiting for that money. Can my colleague explain to me why taxpayers should be forced to pay instead of companies that are making billions of dollars in profits? Elsewhere in the world, including in Europe and France, these companies are forced to pay levies. However, that has not made any difference to the cost of people’s subscriptions. This is not a matter of affordability. These companies can afford to pay. The government needs to explain why it refuses to make them pay.”
Mr. Speaker, we should remember that web giants, the billionaires such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, make $4 billion in profits in Canada. Instead of imposing levies on those who rake in billions of dollars in profits, the government is proposing to take Canadians’ money, $600 million, and invest it in culture. The government has not yet paid that out; the sector is still waiting for that money. Can my colleague explain to me why taxpayers should be forced to pay instead of companies that are making billions of dollars in profits? Elsewhere in the world, including in Europe and France, these companies are forced to pay levies. However, that has not made any difference to the cost of people’s subscriptions. This is not a matter of affordability. These companies can afford to pay. The government needs to explain why it refuses to make them pay.