“The Prime Minister stopped big tech companies from paying taxes and funding our arts to please the American president. That plan failed. I want to know if the Prime Minister will bring back the digital services tax and make these companies support our culture.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister personally cancelled contributions of any kind by tech giants to the economy or the arts in Quebec and Canada, including through taxes or content creation, simply to appease the American President. The effort fell flat. Although I remain unconvinced, the Prime Minister claims to have walked away from the negotiation table for language and culture-related reasons. Since the effort failed, should the Prime Minister consider reinstating the digital services tax and allowing cultural contributions by the web giants?”

• Personal attack
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  Opposition question in Question Period

  Respect 53 of 100

  This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “simply to appease the American President”.

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“I worked in culture for 20 years. Making big tech companies help pay for culture does not raise costs for users, and that money helps Quebec and Canada. Europe already does this. The Prime Minister's policy is not working, and he should rethink it.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to add two points. First, I was in the cultural sector for 20 years in a professional capacity. I know a thing or two about it. Second, corporate contributions have no impact on the cost for users because they are investments the companies would have made anyway. They are funnelled into Quebec and Canada. Given that the Prime Minister wants to build closer ties with Europe, which places great importance on the contribution of businesses and Internet giants to culture, should he not reconsider his policy, which is not working?”

“The Prime Minister failed to please the American president. He should change his mind and make big web companies pay their share to support our arts and culture, especially in French.”

“Mr. Speaker, given the frequency of attendance here, I will take this as a great sign of respect for the voters and citizens of Quebec and Canada. In my view, the Prime Minister has failed in his strategy to appease the American President. In light of this failure, he should reconsider his decision, which we would welcome, so that the web giants, which are wealthier than some countries around the world, pay their fair share to support the vitality of culture and the arts in Canada and Quebec, especially in French.”