Translate Politics Parliament in plain language.

Business of Supply

A Bloc Québécois opposition motion on funding for Quebec and Canadian culture. The motion calls for the promised $600 million for the cultural sector to be delivered now and for foreign streaming companies to be required to contribute to Canadian culture. Bloc members argued the government backed away from levies on large web giants out of fear of trade consequences, leaving taxpayers to cover support instead of companies that earn billions in Canada, and noted the promised money has not yet been distributed. Liberal members said the government supports artists and cultural institutions, pointed to over $1.5 billion invested in the sector over the past year plus other funding, and said the government is still working on how streaming services should contribute and that the $600 million is interim support while that work proceeds. The NDP spoke in favour of the motion, saying web giants should pay their fair share to support French-language media, local news and the CBC. Some Conservative members raised questions about whether levies would raise prices for consumers and increase costs during an affordability crisis, and one question from the debate touched on whether festival funding was higher under the previous government. A portion of the time also went to a tribute by a Bloc member to a community advocate for the unemployed in his riding.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

64 statements

John-Paul Danko

Liberal

Linked statement

“In Hamilton, we have lost many local newspapers, radio stations, and TV news. Democracy needs a shared set of facts. I want the member to say more about how losing that hurts democracies in Canada and around the world.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the comments from the member opposite, especially her comments about the importance of the CBC. I listen to CBC Radio One daily and also local news. In Hamilton, we have lost our local weekly newspapers. We have lost local talk radio stations. Even the daily TV news is a shadow of its former self, as is the daily newspaper. I am wondering if the member could expand on the importance of having a common frame of reference. She talked about how that is impacting democracies. I think this is an issue not only for Canada, but also for western democracies around the world.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B+ View analysis

Heather McPherson

NDP
“We need laws to protect Canadians from fake news and foreign interference on social media. We need to teach people how to spot fake accounts and content made by artificial intelligence. We also must support local news so our democracy stays strong.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is a bit of a bigger issue, and the government has a role to play on a larger scale. This is not just about making web giants pay their fair share. It is not just about taking $600 million from Canadians to make up the shortfall. It is a bigger picture. We need to have guardrails and legislation in place to protect Canadians from the disinformation, misinformation and foreign interference we are seeing on social media platforms. We need to make sure that Canadians have the education they need so they are able to recognize AI slop, bots and whatnot. We also need to make sure that we are supporting our local news. I have incredible local journalists and news outlets in Edmonton and in Alberta that do not get the support they need to continue to provide the services we need as Canadians for our democracy to be strong.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C+ View analysis

Marc Dalton

Conservative
“The Liberals make expensive promises and do not deliver. They promised hundreds of thousands of homes, but very few were built, and fewer rentals are available. Can the member share more examples of broken Liberal promises?”

  • Question or comment in debate

    Relevance 13 of 100

    None of this question addressed the preceding speech or the topic under debate.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it seems that the Liberals are very good at making really expensive promises to much fanfare, but the results are totally opposite or non-existent. I think of housing. They promised hundreds of thousands of houses, and we are seeing a fraction of that. We are seeing a decline in housing, as far as new construction and making better availability for people renting go. I wonder if the member could share any more examples of where the Liberals are making lots of promises and not keeping them.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade D– View analysis

Heather McPherson

NDP
“I agree with my colleague. The government took $600 million from Canadians and still did not give it to the industry that needs it. The Liberals make announcements instead of taking action, but announcements do not protect jobs or help workers.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I could not agree with my colleague more. The fact of the matter is that the $600 million, which we should not be taking from the pockets of Canadians, has not even gone to the industry that requires the money and needs the support. Announcements do not keep jobs. Announcements do not help Canadian workers. Announcements do not tell stories, but we would not know that by watching what the Liberal government does. It likes announcements more than action.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B+ View analysis

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 153

All 51 items ·
  1. Government Orders Business of Supply 51 statements
  2. Government Orders Business of Supply 64 statements
  3. Oral Questions Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 2 statements
  4. Oral Questions Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 6 statements
  5. Oral Questions Government Priorities 6 statements
  6. Oral Questions Public Services and Procurement 14 statements
  7. Oral Questions Canadian Identity and Culture 4 statements
  8. Oral Questions Canada Revenue Agency 4 statements
  9. Oral Questions The Economy 6 statements
  10. Oral Questions Employment 2 statements
  11. Oral Questions Steel and Aluminum Industry 15 statements
  12. Oral Questions Employment 3 statements
  13. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions Sports 2 statements
  15. Oral Questions Finance 6 statements
  16. Oral Questions Foreign Affairs 2 statements
  17. Oral Questions Points of Order 2 statements
  18. Government Orders Business of Supply 31 statements
  19. Oral Questions Government Priorities 2 statements
  20. Oral Questions The Economy 6 statements
  21. Oral Questions The Economy 4 statements
  22. Government Orders Business of Supply 30 statements
  23. Private Members' Business Canada Labour Code 4 statements
  24. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  25. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  26. Oral Questions Business of the House 2 statements