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Canadian Identity and Culture

During question period on Canadian identity and culture, Bloc Québécois members said the Prime Minister gave up a ten-year effort to make American web giants help fund Canadian and Quebec culture and news, including streaming levies and the digital services tax, in order to appease Donald Trump, and asked what was gained given continued threats to the trade relationship. Government ministers replied that the government is investing in culture, citing $772 million for arts and culture in the last budget, an additional $600 million announcement, and $100 million to share Canadian and Quebec productions with international audiences. One Liberal response also criticized the Bloc Québécois itself, referencing comments by the sovereignist camp OUI Québec, which Bloc members said had nothing to do with the question.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Christine Normandin

Bloc Québécois
“The Prime Minister gave up on making American web companies fund Canadian culture and news to please Donald Trump. He got nothing in return. Trump still said he does not want to renew our trade deal. Did the Prime Minister give up our culture for nothing?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister sacrificed the future of francophone culture at the hands of Donald Trump. He is completely giving up on the 10-year struggle to get American web giants to help fund creative works and news. What has he gotten in return? All he has gotten is yet another escalation of hostilities from Washington. After seeing Canada surrender on the culture issue, President Trump responded yesterday by saying that he is not looking to renew CUSMA. Does the Prime Minister realize that he sacrificed culture for nothing?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal

Linked statement

“The minister will answer soon. Even other separatists are saying the Bloc Québécois is intolerant and has given up on its goals. I want the member to clear this up.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, will respond in a moment, but we should reflect on how the Bloc Québécois has lost its way. Two weeks ago, OUI Québec—the “yes” camp, not the “no” camp—basically accused the sovereignist movement of being intolerant. Mr. de Belleval, who is a former PQ transport minister, put it nicely when he said that the Bloc Québécois is now also giving up on its transportation hopes and dreams. I hope that the member for Repentigny will set the record straight, but for now, we are taking note.

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Christine Normandin

Bloc Québécois
“The Prime Minister keeps giving in to Donald Trump on trade and taxes. This weak strategy is not working. Does he realize that?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, not only does that have nothing to do with my question, it has nothing to do with the business of the House either. Contrary to Europe, the Prime Minister capitulated on streaming levies. Contrary to France, he capitulated on the digital services tax. He exempted American multinationals from the global minimum tax. He ended his countertariffs. He is trying to persuade the provinces to end their boycott of American alcohol. He is making every effort to appease Donald Trump, but the outcome is always more concessions. The renewal of CUSMA is now entirely off the table. Does the Prime Minister realize that his weakness strategy is not paying off?

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Marc Miller

Liberal
“Our government is supporting arts and culture while the Bloc Québécois does nothing. We put $772 million into arts and culture in the last budget, announced another $600 million for culture, and spent $100 million to share Canadian and Quebec shows with the world.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the member for reading her question with such conviction. While the Bloc Québécois spends its time loafing about, we are taking action. In the last budget, we invested $772 million in arts and culture. During my last press conference, I announced $600 million for culture, including Quebec culture. I almost forgot the $100 million that was invested in the creative export strategy, which allows programs like Empathie and TV5MONDE programs, which include Quebec television programs, to reach foreign audiences.

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Martin Champoux

Bloc Québécois
“Our media outlets are losing millions of dollars. The Prime Minister backed down on making big tech companies pay their fair share to please Donald Trump, but Donald Trump made more threats anyway. I want the Prime Minister to stand up to him instead of giving in.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the word in French is not “programme”. The correct word is “émission” or “série”. While our media outlets continue to lose millions of dollars in revenue, the Prime Minister tried to placate Donald Trump by ending a decade-long campaign by the cultural sector to ensure that the tech giants pay their fair share. In response, Donald Trump has issued additional threats regarding CUSMA. I would like to read a quote from a Quebec filmmaker, a certain Mr. Falardeau. I do not think the Prime Minister knows him. Mr. Falardeau said, “If you lie down, they will stomp on you. If you remain standing and resist, they will hate you, but they will call you ‘sir’.” Is the Prime Minister not the least bit tempted to take that advice so he might actually be called “sir”?

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Marc Miller

Liberal
“The National Film Board of Canada funded Mr. Falardeau.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank the member opposite for the quality of his French. I would also like to point out that Mr. Falardeau was funded by the National Film Board of Canada.

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