Twitter users are mocking Conservative Leader Stephen Harper’s suggestion that other parties would place a tax on Netflix, while NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair has already said he would do no such thing.
Mulcair responded to an assertion Harper made in an online ad on Wednesday, in which the Conservative leader said other parties “have left the door wide open” to taxing digital services like Netflix and YouTube.
“We have no plan to bring in such a tax,” Mulcair said on Thursday. He also accused Harper of going back on 2011 campaign promises not to tax iPod sales or income trusts.
“Every time he promises not to tax something, that’s actually a clue that that’s something he is going to tax,” Mulcair added.
In Harper’s video, he rather stiffly proclaims his love for streaming movies and TV shows. “One of my all-time favourites is ‘Breaking Bad,’” he says. “It’s even available on some online streaming services, if you’ve never seen it.”
He then suggests his opponents “want to tax digital streaming services like Netflix and YouTube.”
“I’m 100 per cent against the Netflix tax,” Harper says. “Always have been, always will be.”
I love movies and TV shows. I'm 100% against a #Netflix tax. Always have been, always will be #NoNetflixTax #elxn42 https://t.co/oUYgTkXH3q
— Stephen Harper (@pmharper) August 5, 2015
Harper has said in the past that he would oppose a tax on Netflix and other streaming services. However, a line in the 2014 federal budget shows the Conservatives were seeking input from consultants on the possibility of taxing “e-commerce sales to Canadians by foreign-based vendors.”
Netflix says it’s not required to charge GST to Canadian customers because the company has no employees or assets in Canada.
On Wednesday, Harper quickly came under fire on Twitter for raising fears of a Netflix tax when the other parties have made no such claims.
Need a definition of a "straw man argument?" @pmharper just came up with a textbook example. #nonetflixtax #insultingcanadiansintelligence
— Christopher Stanton (@onebandoflight) August 6, 2015
So... Now the @pmharper Conservatives are making up taxes to oppose them...? #NoNetflixTax #NoUnicornTax #cdnpoli #NDP #NDP2015 #nlpoli
— Lukas Norman (@LukasNorman) August 6, 2015
Thanks so much for #NoNetflixTax, @CPC_HQ. Never mind social justice or the economy; I prefer creepy pandering that plays me for a fool.
— Geoff Wallace (@wallacegeoff) August 6, 2015
Can't tell if @pmharper is a parody account or real thing. #NoNetflixTax pic.twitter.com/K142lLnzsd
— Matt Patterson (@yyz2yyc) August 6, 2015
'Something you may not know about me; I watch tv'.."Must let the humans know I am of their same species".Good try robot #HarperANetflixShow
— Ashley Dawnn (@ashleydawwnn) August 6, 2015
Others openly mocked Harper and his proclaimed love for “Breaking Bad” by suggesting fictional Conservative-themed TV shows for Netflix, using the hashtag #HarperANetFlixShow.
Breaking Baird. #HarperANetflixShow #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/2Z4SWSUjLb
— Binks (@BinkyBaxter1) August 6, 2015
The Final Temptation of #CPCJesus #HarperANetflixShow pic.twitter.com/jqf3F9NeAy
— Merlin (@MerlinVotes) August 6, 2015
The Incredible Sulk #HarperANetflixShow pic.twitter.com/rtgsVxdXL5
— Jason Haslam (@JazzlamHazzlam) August 6, 2015
Minions #HarperANetflixShow pic.twitter.com/goN2fhI9pI
— chris sigurdson (@chris_sigurdson) August 6, 2015
Orange is the New Government #HarperANetflixShow
— Luke Savage (@LukewSavage) August 6, 2015
Honey I blew up the Economy #HarperANetflixShow
— Rick Palidwor (@RickPalidwor) August 6, 2015
#HarperANetflixShow I Won't Meet the press
— Ronda Zwierz (@PunnedIt55) August 6, 2015
Better Robocall Saul #HarperANetflixShow
— Jan O'Hara|Tartitude (@jan_ohara) August 6, 2015
Silence of the Scientists #HarperANetflixShow pic.twitter.com/wzMMnoDVyB
— Elizabeth (@ElizaDeee) August 6, 2015