Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre demanded the Liberal government scrap a CRTC rule requiring streaming services to contribute revenue toward Canadian content.
The dispute centers on the potential for increased subscription costs for consumers and the risk of diplomatic friction with the United States. Poilievre said that the financial burden on streaming platforms will inevitably be passed down to Canadian users.
Speaking in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Thursday, Poilievre called for the government to overturn the mandate. Under the current rule, streaming services must contribute 15% [1] of their revenue to Canadian content. This rate is triple the original requirement [1].
Poilievre said the increased contribution rate could provoke retaliation from the U.S. government. He said that the tax could derail ongoing trade talks between the two nations, a move that could impact broader economic relations.
The Liberal government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has faced increasing pressure to address the cost of living. Poilievre said the "Netflix tax" is a primary example of policies that increase expenses for citizens while risking international trade stability.
Opponents of the measure argue that the CRTC's approach to funding domestic content is outdated. They said that forcing global platforms to pay a high percentage of their revenue into local funds does not guarantee a better quality of content for the viewer.
Poilievre said the government must prioritize the affordability of digital services for Canadians over the current regulatory framework.
“Streaming services must contribute 15% of their revenue to Canadian content.”
This clash highlights a growing tension between Canada's desire to protect and fund its domestic cultural industry and the economic reality of global digital platforms. By framing the CRTC's mandate as a 'tax' that risks US retaliation, Poilievre is linking cultural policy to both cost-of-living concerns and international trade stability, signaling a potential shift in how the opposition would handle digital regulation if they take power.
