Discussion · Government Orders
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Québécois
“The government just lists the cultural grants it gives to Quebec instead of listening to our ideas. It claims we only complain. We want fair taxes and a modern way to fund our media and culture. The government is still using rules from the 1980s.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague. That was an excellent speech. Whenever today’s topic comes up in the House, ministers and members stand up and read lists of everything that the Department of Canadian Heritage has funded in Quebec, like festivals and events and so forth. Essentially, they are telling us that we cannot put forward meaningful proposals or carry out our role as the opposition simply because the Department of Canadian Heritage exists. As long as this department exists and spends money on festivals, we will not be allowed to put forward meaningful proposals. However, this government claims, with great arrogance, that the opposition does nothing but complain and is not constructive. What we are calling for is tax fairness. We are asking whether the system as a whole that is used for funding the media ecosystem reflects the reality of today’s new technologies. This is a profound and necessary change that must be sustainable. What are we to make of a government that, in 2026, decides to support culture and, in particular, the television industry and the radio sector, using methods from the 1980s?”
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague. That was an excellent speech. Whenever today’s topic comes up in the House, ministers and members stand up and read lists of everything that the Department of Canadian Heritage has funded in Quebec, like festivals and events and so forth. Essentially, they are telling us that we cannot put forward meaningful proposals or carry out our role as the opposition simply because the Department of Canadian Heritage exists. As long as this department exists and spends money on festivals, we will not be allowed to put forward meaningful proposals. However, this government claims, with great arrogance, that the opposition does nothing but complain and is not constructive. What we are calling for is tax fairness. We are asking whether the system as a whole that is used for funding the media ecosystem reflects the reality of today’s new technologies. This is a profound and necessary change that must be sustainable. What are we to make of a government that, in 2026, decides to support culture and, in particular, the television industry and the radio sector, using methods from the 1980s?