Canada Quietly Enacts Retroactive Digital Tax on U.S. Tech Giants

Canadian Chamber of Commerce "It will increase prices for Canadians".

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I personally do not advocate any process or procedure contained in any of my Blogs. Information presented here is not intended to provide legal or lawful advice, nor medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevent any disease. Views expressed are for educational purposes only.

Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister defends implementation of digital services tax

July 04.24

Chrystia Freeland said a number of G7 countries already have such a tax in place. Video 02:05 mins
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/freeland-defends-implementation-digital-services-191135602.html

Increased costs to Canadians

July 04.24

Despite the U.S. explaining to Canada it was ready to use “all tools” available to fight what it believes is an unfair levy, the federal government on late Wednesday posted an update to say it had enacted its 3% Digital Tax, last week.

The notice was posted ahead of the 4th of July holiday in the U.S., a move seemingly to catch U.S. media sleeping, but some noticed including the Wall Street Journal. 

The retroactive digital-services tax applies on revenue from companies providing digital services to Canadian users or selling Canadian user data, effective June 28, 2024, retroactive all the way back to 2022.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet decision sparked warnings from U.S. officials, including Trade Representative Katherine Tai, about potential trade retaliation.

In response, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce argued the tax violates the USMCA and WTO agreements. Business Council of Canada President Goldy Hyder urged reconsideration to avoid damaging trade actions from the U.S.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said the tax aims to ensure digital businesses contribute fairly, projecting it will generate $2.3 billion CAD by March 2025 and nearly $6 billion over five years. Despite efforts to implement a global tax accord backed by the Biden administration, delays prompted Canada to proceed with its tax plan.

“The imposition of a retroactive discriminatory digital services tax by the federal government will not only make life more expensive for Canadian families, businesses and workers, but it will significantly harm our relationship with the United States. The government should reverse its unilateral decision that is out of step with our allies, and instead, work with our trading partners on an international solution that would better serve Canadians,” said Robin Guy, Vice President & Deputy Leader, Government Relations, in a statement.

“Deeply disappointed that Canada’s discriminatory Digital Services Tax entered into force this afternoon. This USMCA-inconsistent action harms America’s most innovative companies and sets a dangerous precedent for ongoing global tax talks. @USTradeRep must use USMCA to address it,” said Ed Brzytwa from the Consumer Technology Association on X.

This digital tax is on top of the CRTC’s plan to slap a 5% fee on foreign streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ to fund local content, which the Digital Media Association criticized as discriminatory. https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/2024/07/04/canada-quietly-enacts-retroactive-digital-tax-on-u-s-tech-giants/

Starve the beast system

AI thrives on data, data volunteered by individuals that is weaponized against them: wearable smart technology devices, smart home devices, Google and/or Alexa voice assistants, communication devices, social media platforms, online purchases, loyalty cards, credit cards, psychologically manipulating television.

How many individuals use cash as much as possible to minimize data mining?

Wealth today is data, not gold or oil

External SMART devices are synchronized with devices directly connected to the human body like SMART watches on our wrists and SMART phones in our hands. These devices gather information about what is happening inside our body and have the ability to alter functions of the human body. In the near future, they are to be implanted inside the human body to collect even more data and have a lot more influence on what happens inside us …
https://www.ourgreaterdestiny.ca/p/why-herd-people-into-smart-cities

Opportunities to rebut power, greed, and control are presented daily. The principle of sowing what we reap bends for no one. TY!

Without prejudice and without recourse
Doreen Agostino
Our Greater Destiny Blog
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