Quebec's culture minister has hinted that if the feds won't move to place a tax on Netflix, the province will.
Luc Fortin told Le Devoir that the government is ready to have the QST apply to streaming online services like Netflix, Spotify, Amazon and iTunes.
Earlier this week, Fortin published an open letter suggesting Ottawa reconsider its decision to refrain from taxing web services based outside the country. Fortin points out Canadian-based platforms, such as Bell Media's Crave TV, are already compelled to collect and remit federal and provincial sales taxes.
In his letter, he also suggests backing off on taxing foreign streaming services would "send a very bad message to our own cultural artisans."
Federal heritage minister Melanie Joly is expected to announce her government's position on Sept. 28.
Fortin suggests other jurisdictions around the world have levied similar taxes on web services. European Netflix users, he points out, are subject to taxes in force in their own countries.