Discussion · Oral Questions
Martin Champoux Bloc Québécois
“The government broke its promise to make giant web companies pay a levy. Now taxpayers must pay the $600-million cost instead, even if they do not use those streaming services. Companies like Netflix and Disney make billions in profit, while regular Quebeckers make about $40,000. I want the minister to tell us if she thinks that is fair.”
“Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Liberals have forgotten their $600-million promise, their commitment to impose a levy on the web giants. The worst part of all of this is that taxpayers will have to foot a $600-million bill to make up for the government’s backtracking on the levy. Instead of making the web giants pay, the government is foisting the bill onto all taxpayers, even those who do not have Netflix or Disney+ subscriptions, even those who chose to cancel their subscription as a show of solidarity toward Canadian culture. Let us not forget that Netflix made $3.7 billion in profits in the last quarter alone, while Disney+ made $712 million. The median income for Quebeckers is about $40,000, yet they are the ones being forced to pay. Does the minister think that is fair?”
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Liberals have forgotten their $600-million promise, their commitment to impose a levy on the web giants. The worst part of all of this is that taxpayers will have to foot a $600-million bill to make up for the government’s backtracking on the levy. Instead of making the web giants pay, the government is foisting the bill onto all taxpayers, even those who do not have Netflix or Disney+ subscriptions, even those who chose to cancel their subscription as a show of solidarity toward Canadian culture. Let us not forget that Netflix made $3.7 billion in profits in the last quarter alone, while Disney+ made $712 million. The median income for Quebeckers is about $40,000, yet they are the ones being forced to pay. Does the minister think that is fair?