“The government is asking to drop a 15 percent fee on big streaming companies during trade talks. This costs our culture 3.4 billion dollars. The Prime Minister should protect our culture instead of giving it away.”

“Mr. Speaker, here is yet another betrayal of Quebec culture: On day two of the CUSMA negotiations, the government is already asking the CRTC to drop the 15% levy required of major online streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video. After scrapping the digital services tax, Ottawa is once again sacrificing funding for cultural content by allowing web giants to avoid paying their fair share. We are talking about $3.4 billion. Does the Prime Minister know that he is supposed to defend culture, not bargain it away?”

“The Prime Minister is giving up billions of dollars from big American streaming companies. That money should go to our cultural sector. Instead, he wants taxpayers to cover the loss. How can he justify helping big tech companies while everyone else loses?”

“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister previously abandoned the digital services tax without any concessions from Washington; there was nothing at all. As a result, he deprived the cultural sector of $1.4 billion. Today, he is asking the CRTC to backtrack on the 15% levy imposed on large online streaming platforms. That would mean once again giving up on $2 billion that would essentially come from the United States. He is depriving the cultural sector of billions of dollars, while saying he would spend $600 million of taxpayer money to make up for that. How can he justify the fact that everybody is losing, except for the web giants?”

“The Prime Minister canceled a fee on American web companies and is using public money instead. This costs taxpayers money and hurts Quebec culture and the French language. Will he reverse this decision?”

“Mr. Speaker, he is forgoing $3.4 billion a year that would come from the United States, and taking $600 million out of taxpayers’ pockets. By asking the CRTC to cancel the 15% levy, the Prime Minister is doing something even worse than merely capitulating. He is validating the Americans’ claim that Quebec culture and the French language are barriers to trade. By replacing the levy with public funds, he is validating the Conservatives’ criticism by making taxpayers pay for the web giants’ share. That is their reasoning. The Prime Minister is sending the message that he is weak. Will he reverse this cowardly decision?”