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Canadian Identity and Culture

During Question Period, Yves-François Blanchet of the Bloc Québécois said the government, during the CUSMA trade negotiations, had asked the CRTC to drop the 15% levy on large foreign streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+, which he said would cost the cultural sector about $3.4 billion a year, on top of earlier scrapping of the digital services tax; he argued it hurt Quebec culture and the French language and asked the Prime Minister to reverse the decision. Prime Minister Mark Carney replied that the levy was paid by ordinary Canadians through their streaming bills, that the decision was about affordability for families, and that the government is investing additional money in Canadian and Quebec culture, including funding in the budget that Blanchet voted against.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“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.”
Official Hansard

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?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“We are focusing on making life more affordable for Canadian and Quebec families. We are also spending another $600 million on culture in Canada and Quebec.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the government is starting by standing up for ordinary people. We are focusing on affordability. This decision is primarily about ensuring affordability for Quebeckers and Canadian families. At the same time, we are investing an additional $600 million in Canadian and Quebec culture.

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Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois
“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?”
Official Hansard

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?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“Regular Canadians pay for the streaming fee through higher prices. We chose to support culture while keeping things affordable for everyone.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have some news for the member for Beloeil—Chambly. Who pays for that streaming levy? Everyday Canadians do, through streaming fees. That is the truth. At a time when we are focused on purchasing power, we decided to support the cultural sector and focus on affordability for everyone.

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Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois
“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?”
Official Hansard

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?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“We have invested $750 million to support Canadian, francophone, and Quebec culture. The member for Beloeil—Chambly voted against this funding in the budget.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the government is investing in Canadian culture, in francophone culture and in Quebec culture. They are pillars of our identity. We are supporting Canada’s cultural sector more than ever with the decisions made today and in the budget, which the member for Beloeil—Chambly voted against. We have invested $750 million in Canada’s cultural sector.

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