Federal Budget : Quebecor is critical of the inaction of Ottawa in the face to the giants of the web

News 28 February, 2018

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QMI agency

Wednesday, February 28 2018 12:37

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Wednesday, February 28 2018 12:41

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OTTAWA | over the lack of measures provided for in the new federal budget to submit digital platforms to the same tax regime as companies in the country, Quebecor denounces the inaction of the Trudeau government.

“Despite the fact that he has been distracted by all of the actors in the socio-economic and cultural rights of Quebec, the government has once again chosen to turn its back on the businesses here, to make the beautiful eyes of the giant aliens of the web,” said by news release the president and ceo of Quebecor, Pierre Karl Péladeau.

He pointed out that several foreign governments have decided to act in order to impose a tax on online services, criticizing the federal government for its secret deal with Netflix.

The Trudeau government announced in September an agreement of $ 500 million with Netflix. The agreement provides for investments in the production, but does not include the broadcasting service in line with no sales tax such as the GST or the QST, unlike the canadian broadcasters who provide online services.

Mr. Péladeau accuses of “duplicity” of the liberals in power in Ottawa.

“The Trudeau government repeats constantly wanting to help the middle class, encouraging innovation, and spreading our know-how to the international, but he systematically refuses to defend the interests of businesses here that are most likely to create jobs, innovate and export”, he continued.

Several other groups and stakeholders on Tuesday criticized the inaction of the Trudeau government in this case in the wake of the tabling of the budget 2018, such as the Coalition for arts, culture and media, the FRIENDS of canadian broadcasting and the canadian Union of public employees (CUPE).

“Given the lack of political courage of the Trudeau government, the canadian broadcasters will continue to face the unfair competition of the giants of the digital, which do not pay any taxes nor taxes,” said Denis Bolduc, president of CUPE-Quebec, by issuing a press release.