“This is not a tax, but we are still taking your money. We want to control what people watch online. This is going to cost a lot of money, but don't worry, it's all about fairness. We want to support our friends who tell stories and make art. They vote for us, so we need to keep them happy.”
What they said. What they meant.
Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.
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Oral Questions
Canadian Identity and Culture
The Conservatives accused the Liberals of essentially imposing a new tax on streaming services like Netflix, which will make these services cost about 15% more for Canadians. The Liberals insisted this is not a tax but a way to ensure 'equity for creators' and to make giant streaming platforms contribute to Canadian cultural production. The Conservatives argued this comes as Canadians are already struggling to afford basic necessities under Liberal policies. Much of the exchange consisted of procedural sparring and talking past each other, with the Conservatives focused on affordability and the Liberals on protecting Canadian culture.
“The cultural sector is important to the economy. It makes money and creates jobs. It's who we are as Canadians. The government should support it.”
“There is no tax. Anyone who says there is a tax is wrong. We want the CBC and cultural industries to have more money. The other parties don't care about Canadian culture.”