Today, June 30th , was supposed to be the day that digital services offered by the likes of Amazon, Meta, Google and Uber would face a levy on revenues generated from Canadian users.
Here is my take. This isn’t insider information. It’s based on what’s already public knowledge.
Under the previous Liberal government, Canada’s Digital Services Tax (DST) was designed as a fallback plan while Trudeau worked to join the OECD digital enforcement framework. That wasn’t likely to happen - so the DST was created as a safety net.
But since Mark Carney aligned Canada more closely with Europe and signaled deeper integration with international digital trade frameworks, the picture has changed.
Now, instead of relying on a Canada-only DST, the smarter, and potentially much tougher, option is to finalize enforcement through the OECD and key allies like the EU.
The question is: how would Canada even collect the tax if the DST kicked in today? And if there’s typically a 30-day grace period for payment, what happens if the OECD-based framework starts in three weeks?
You’d have mailed out DST statements today, allocated staff, and burned programming resources, only to cancel it all on day 21.
This feels less like a surrender to Trump and more like a case of awkward timing. The DST wasn’t Carney’s idea - it was Trudeau’s backup plan. And it was in the way.
Why wasn’t it shut down sooner? Because just weeks ago, Canada was still in talks about aligning with the EU. You don’t kill your backup plan when you’re not sure if the main one will close.
It could easily take three weeks to reconfigure Canada's systems to integrate with OECD protocols. That’s a standard window for mirroring digital infrastructure around the globe.
And Carney, as Canada’s chief negotiator, can’t publicly broadcast every move in those talks. If allies think their early positions will be leaked or misinterpreted, they stop talking freely.
Here’s the key thing: Trump gave Carney 30 days. So why is Carney pushing for 21?
It’s not backtracking. It looks more like a recalibration. A shift away from a local tax toward a global enforcement strategy that’s harder to dodge, tougher to game, and far more enduring.
It had already crossed my mind to give Carney the benefit of the doubt, until a whole lot more puzzle pieces fall into place. Everything he’s done for many months has always looked like he was three chess moves into the future, as opposed to trump falling asleep on his checkerboard.
Andy, your post is adding strength to my inclination to assume there was logic behind this Carney move.
I hope that PM Carney's spine hasn't turned to rubber. He seems like a better leader than Foolius Caesar. Then again PEEWEE HERMAN would be a better leader than Diaper Don the Spray - Tanned Con.
You don't do business with a person who pays you with rubber checks or IOUs written on bathroom tissue. The MAGA Maniac is a bigger skinflint than EBENEZER SCROOGE.
Initial reactions rarely stand the test of time. I think, as much as it didn't sit well with Carney, a lot more is at stake in the renegotiation of the trade deal.
Could we trade Defective Donny for Carney ? Only if Canada takes over the US & makes us a new province, I guess. Wow, Canadian beer would be worth it ! 🍺🍻
Bring signage to make your message and numbers passively visible to events you attend, such as 4th of July concerts, parades, bar-b-ques, and fireworks.
Wear T-Shirts with your own messaging written on them. Use a permanent black marker on white, yellow, orange, or pink material if you have to.
Don't give Trump the legal means to deploy troops through an excuse that there were riots.
Show the courts Trump is full of BS.
🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
NEXT MAJOR NATION WIDE PROTEST IS: GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON
Republican Senator Murkowski just made a deal for a new clause in Trump's Big Beautiful Bill to increase Medicaid spending only for Alaska and Hawaii in exchange for her vote to support H.R.1.
This breaks Senate rules around favouritism. Because of this, H.R.1 has lost special protections, and now needs 60 votes to pass instead of 51.
Your pressure and demonstrations have raised awareness and ensured people like parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough do their jobs.
Here is my take. This isn’t insider information. It’s based on what’s already public knowledge.
Under the previous Liberal government, Canada’s Digital Services Tax (DST) was designed as a fallback plan while Trudeau worked to join the OECD digital enforcement framework. That wasn’t likely to happen - so the DST was created as a safety net.
But since Mark Carney aligned Canada more closely with Europe and signaled deeper integration with international digital trade frameworks, the picture has changed.
Now, instead of relying on a Canada-only DST, the smarter, and potentially much tougher, option is to finalize enforcement through the OECD and key allies like the EU.
The question is: how would Canada even collect the tax if the DST kicked in today? And if there’s typically a 30-day grace period for payment, what happens if the OECD-based framework starts in three weeks?
You’d have mailed out DST statements today, allocated staff, and burned programming resources, only to cancel it all on day 21.
This feels less like a surrender to Trump and more like a case of awkward timing. The DST wasn’t Carney’s idea - it was Trudeau’s backup plan. And it was in the way.
Why wasn’t it shut down sooner? Because just weeks ago, Canada was still in talks about aligning with the EU. You don’t kill your backup plan when you’re not sure if the main one will close.
It could easily take three weeks to reconfigure Canada's systems to integrate with OECD protocols. That’s a standard window for mirroring digital infrastructure around the globe.
And Carney, as Canada’s chief negotiator, can’t publicly broadcast every move in those talks. If allies think their early positions will be leaked or misinterpreted, they stop talking freely.
Here’s the key thing: Trump gave Carney 30 days. So why is Carney pushing for 21?
It’s not backtracking. It looks more like a recalibration. A shift away from a local tax toward a global enforcement strategy that’s harder to dodge, tougher to game, and far more enduring.
I hope your reasoned view is the right one - I'd like to think there is a Strategy behind this... Thanks!
no problem. I wasn't sure if I should publish this because Carney may need the secrecy.
but, the assessment was:
there would have been more damage done to the resistance, and a serious undermining of Carney's credibility, if this post wasn't done.
As you say, it would have encouraged Trump to do more because he perceived a major weakness in his target to exploit.
It had already crossed my mind to give Carney the benefit of the doubt, until a whole lot more puzzle pieces fall into place. Everything he’s done for many months has always looked like he was three chess moves into the future, as opposed to trump falling asleep on his checkerboard.
Andy, your post is adding strength to my inclination to assume there was logic behind this Carney move.
I hope that PM Carney's spine hasn't turned to rubber. He seems like a better leader than Foolius Caesar. Then again PEEWEE HERMAN would be a better leader than Diaper Don the Spray - Tanned Con.
only an idiot would think he can still make a deal with Trump, after Trumps record of never following thru on his deals.
As a banker, Carney has got to know this. otherwise, nobody would have hired him in the financial industry.
Like, you don't give loans to a potential bad risk, yet alone a documented one
You don't do business with a person who pays you with rubber checks or IOUs written on bathroom tissue. The MAGA Maniac is a bigger skinflint than EBENEZER SCROOGE.
Very disappointing indeed! Trump and the oligarchs win again. Maybe Canadians need to boycott all the companies not willing to pay taxes here.
That IS a strong idea! Your by-line name is perfect! :-)
Sometimes you have to retreat before you can advance.....
Initial reactions rarely stand the test of time. I think, as much as it didn't sit well with Carney, a lot more is at stake in the renegotiation of the trade deal.
I am sure he is playing the deep game, but it gives me heartburn...
Take some Tums lol!
all negotions have give and take in them
Thank you, true!
Big disappointment. Never back down to blustering bullies!
& the Abomination of Desolation's Id gets stroked yet AGAIN. WHY, Mark, WHY ?
Give it time, my money is still on Carney.
Could we trade Defective Donny for Carney ? Only if Canada takes over the US & makes us a new province, I guess. Wow, Canadian beer would be worth it ! 🍺🍻
🍁 Elbows UP! 🏒
Most people will be celebrating Independence Day this long weekend, so there will be a lot of drinking.
Booze and protests are a volatile mix. There aren't a lot of protests scheduled on America's birthday for this reason.
Instead, the next major nationwide protest is being planned for mid July.
There are still some less confrontational protests planned for the 4th.
Free America Weekend
https://action.womensmarch.com/calendars/free-america-weekend
No Kings Day 2.0
Friday July 4th 2025
https://www.mobilize.us/freedomoverfascism/event/806059/
https://www.mobilize.us/freedomoverfascism/?accessible_only=true&date=2025-07-04T04%3A00%3A00.000Z
Bring signage to make your message and numbers passively visible to events you attend, such as 4th of July concerts, parades, bar-b-ques, and fireworks.
Wear T-Shirts with your own messaging written on them. Use a permanent black marker on white, yellow, orange, or pink material if you have to.
Don't give Trump the legal means to deploy troops through an excuse that there were riots.
Show the courts Trump is full of BS.
🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
NEXT MAJOR NATION WIDE PROTEST IS: GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON
No Kings, What's Next?
https://www.nokings.org/next
Good Trouble Lives On
Thursday July 17th 2025
https://goodtroubleliveson.org/
🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
Republican Senator Murkowski just made a deal for a new clause in Trump's Big Beautiful Bill to increase Medicaid spending only for Alaska and Hawaii in exchange for her vote to support H.R.1.
This breaks Senate rules around favouritism. Because of this, H.R.1 has lost special protections, and now needs 60 votes to pass instead of 51.
Your pressure and demonstrations have raised awareness and ensured people like parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough do their jobs.
Parliamentarian of the United States Senate
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentarian_of_the_United_States_Senate
She saved the rest of us from a fast-tracked fiscal disaster.
Barry Gander explains in more detail in his substack article:
https://open.substack.com/pub/barrygander/p/gop-greed-might-kill-its-own-bill
Vocal Spectrum - Good Vibrations (Beach Boys cover)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uU578PBfaHg
Good Vibrations Guitar Chords Lesson - The Beach Boys
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=is2ysld8aeU&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD