Hub Podcasts Justin Trudeau’s legislative legacy is still haunting the Liberals
Jul 4, 2025
Peter Menzies, a commentator and former vice chair of the CRTC, delves into Justin Trudeau's legislative legacy and its haunting impact on the current Liberal government. He highlights the challenges posed by Trudeau's policies, including the retraction of a digital services tax under U.S. pressure. Menzies argues that these decisions significantly shape Canada’s media and technology landscape, reflecting the ongoing struggles the Liberals face in navigating the repercussions of past legislation.
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Trudeau's Faulty Digital Tax
- Justin Trudeau's 3% digital services tax (DST) on big tech revenues was enacted prematurely and poorly.
- The tax's introduction led to halted trade talks and humiliation for Canada as the U.S. opposed it strongly.
Troubled Digital Media Laws
- The Online News Act and Online Streaming Act have caused significant controversy and legal challenges.
- Both laws aimed at new revenue streams but ended up creating problems for news publishers and streaming services.
Subsidies Hurt News Trust
- Subsidies to news organizations were introduced to compensate for the financial damage caused by the Online News Act.
- These government payments diminished public trust in news providers rather than restoring financial health.