Carney ‘will never discuss’ supply management, Digital Services Tax -Western Standard
So nothing to negotiate.Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday afternoon said he is completely unwilling to put the Supply Management Agreement or Digital Services Tax discussions up for negotiation.
The supply management system issue, which tightly controls the sale of dairy, eggs and poultry in Canada, has arisen several times this week as federal leaders vie for voters’ support on the campaign trail.
“We will never discuss supply management with the US,” Carey told reporters at a press conference in Montreal Friday afternoon.
“The government is strong and clear on that.”
“From the very first day of my launch of my Liberal leadership campaign, the launch of my economic platform, [I said] we will not have discussions on supply management.”
“It’s off the table.”
A second controversial law Carney will not revisit is the Digital Services Tax, which the Parliamentary Budget Office says will cost $7.2 billion, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
“The feds need to stop dreaming up new taxes and new ways to make life more expensive,” said Franco Terrazzano, federal director of CTF, when it was first introduced in October 2023, adding it will “mean higher prices for ordinary Canadians.”
The services tax tacks on a 3% charge to foreign and domestic large businesses on certain revenue earned from engaging with online users in Canada, focusing on tech giants like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Uber and Airbnb.
The PBO advised the tax inflates prices for Canadians — the big businesses will not absorb the tax, but rather have it trickle down to consumers.
“It is also expected that businesses in the targeted sectors will adjust their services and prices in response to the new law,” said the PBO.
Carney takes no heed to such warnings and is moving full steam ahead without looking back.
“Quebec, supply management, issues involving culture and arts — they will never, ever be on the table,” said Carney on Friday.
The Liberals promise to spend $5 billion on a Trade Diversification Corridor Fund that will diversify trade partners and strengthen the security of Canadian ports “to stop the flow of drugs such as fentanyl and its precursors, as well as illegal guns and stolen autos.”
A CBSA agent recently admitted that under the Liberals’ oversight, less than 1% of imports are searched — and zero imports coming by rail are searched.
“The road ahead in this trade war will be long and difficult, but I have every confidence in our people,” said Carney.
“We are stronger when we are together. We will build a more productive, more competitive, more resilient economy. We are ready to build the fastest growing economy in the G7.”
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