“The government already spends over 1.2 billion dollars a year on culture. Lack of money is not the problem, and Canadians are tired of paying high taxes.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would simply say to my colleague that the federal government invests astronomical sums, more than $1.2 billion a year, in culture in Quebec and across Canada. I sit on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, and during our most recent studies, we were told that money is not currently an issue. Rather, more authority is needed to ensure wider distribution across Canada. I therefore believe that the crux of the matter is that, as we speak, the average consumer has had enough. People are fed up with paying taxes. It is the only way the Liberals have found to squeeze extra money out of consumers’ pockets, and people are sick of it.”

“I want my colleague to tell Canadians who will pay for this 15% streaming tax if the government does not cancel it.”

“Mr. Speaker, I simply wish to give my colleague the opportunity to remind all Canadians who will ultimately foot the bill for the 15% increase if the Liberal government does not reject this streaming tax increase proposed by the CRTC and does not scrap it.”

“Regular consumers are the ones who will end up paying this new 15% tax. The older 5% tax is still being fought in court, but if it goes through, ordinary Canadians will be stuck with the bill.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his French. That is a really great question. I have anglophone colleagues who are making incredible efforts in French. In fact, some come to study in La Pocatière, in my riding, in the summer. The answer to that is the consumer. At the end of the day, it is the consumer who is going to pay this 15% tax, which used to be 5%. By the way, that 5% tax has still not been collected because it is being challenged in court. The legislation stemming from Bill C‑11 is still not enforced. This future tax will inevitably apply one day if the court settlement is finally reached. Once again, the reality is that ordinary Canadians are the ones who will end up paying the tax.”

• Answered
  ?

  Reply to a debate question

  Relevance 100 of 100

  Of this reply, 100% addressed the question or point raised.

  See full analysis →

“I want the government to cancel the new tax increase on streaming services. The government is making streaming services pay 15 percent of their Canadian earnings. Families cannot afford higher costs right now, and this tax will drive away investment in our cultural industries.”

“Mr. Speaker, in the short time I have available to me, I want to say how pleased I am to speak on our Conservative motion that “the House call on the Liberal Cabinet to use their powers under the Broadcasting Act to reject the CRTC’s streaming tax increase and eliminate the streaming tax.” For the Canadians who are watching, the Liberal-appointed CRTC recently ordered online streaming services to pay 15% of their annual Canadian revenues to the government. That is up from the current 5%. There are three basic reasons why we are advocating for that to be rolled back and eliminated. First, it is an affordability issue. At a time when families are struggling to afford food, gas and housing, another tax hike makes no sense, particularly now. Second, it hinders investment. It does not do anything to enhance the competitive nature of our cultural industries in Canada. In fact, it will only hinder our cultural industries. It works against what we are trying to do. Earlier, when I was talking to a colleague, I said that in 1996, the Conservative government in the province of Ontario, the government of Mike Harris, introduced an Ontario film and television tax credit, which allowed the industry to grow and thrive and supported the cultural industries and artists. That is being put at risk by an increased tax burden that will only drive those investments away.”