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Canadian Identity and Culture

During oral questions on Canadian identity and culture, the Bloc Québécois asked whether the government would direct the CRTC to make American streaming platforms contribute financially to Canadian and Quebec francophone culture, saying the Prime Minister refused to reconsider policies on streaming contributions despite having ended trade negotiations with Washington to protect culture. The Bloc also noted that the European Union requires streaming platforms to pay such a fee and asked the government to restore it. The Liberal minister replied that francophone culture and the French language are central to Canada’s identity, that web giants have a responsibility to help promote local artists, and that the government has invested over $2 billion in culture across the last two budgets.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Martin Champoux

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“The future of French-language culture in Quebec and Canada depends on money from big online streaming services. The Prime Minister refuses to make American streaming companies pay into our culture. I want to know if the government will order the CRTC to make these companies pay.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister claims he broke off negotiations with Washington to protect our culture. However, yesterday, when he was asked to reconsider his policies on American streaming platforms’ contributions, he categorically refused. We will say it again and again, as many times as it takes: The future of francophone culture in Quebec and Canada depends on contributions from the web giants. Without them, there is no solution. The government will need to decide whether it truly wants to protect francophone culture. Will it ask the CRTC to impose these levies?

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Marc Miller

Liberal
“Francophone culture and the French language are central to Canada, and we will protect them. Big tech companies must help people find and support our local artists.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 48 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 0 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, francophone culture and the French language are our identity, and we will never back down. When it comes to discoverability, the same applies to the web giants. They have a responsibility to help promote our local artists, without exception.

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Martin Champoux

Bloc Québécois
“European countries make American streaming platforms pay a fee, without raising prices much for users. Canada gave in to American pressure and canceled this fee. I want the government to bring it back.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to see how people dodge the issue. Discoverability is one thing. Contributing financially is another. The Prime Minister wants to build closer ties with Europe and distance himself from the Americans. When it comes to culture, the European Union requires American streaming platforms to pay a levy. It imposed a levy without any significant price hikes for users. In contrast to the 27 European countries, Canada is going it alone and bowing to American pressure in the fight for cultural diversity. Since it wants to draw closer to Europe, will the government reinstate the levies that it should never have scrapped?

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Marc Miller

Liberal
“The Bloc is wrong to say we are not investing in culture. Over the last two budgets, we have spent more than $2 billion on culture.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 19 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, only the Bloc Québécois could stand up in the House and exhibit such intellectual laziness by claiming that we are not investing in culture. Over the past two budget cycles, we have invested more than $2 billion in culture.

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