At the same time, the government will invest in broadband connectivity, digital adoption by small businesses, and strategies to promote such sectors as quantum technologies and genomics. The Liberal government will target Big Tech with a $3.4-billion digital services tax, despite some experts warning that such a move carries the risk of retaliatory tariffs from the United States. The tax will be replaced by an international version once the OECD establishes consensus on a multilateral digital services tax. The additional money will bring the total funding for the Universal Broadband Fund, which was launched last fall, to $2.75 billion. The budget also aims to boost Canada’s leadership in genomics, or the study of genes and their functions, with a five-year project.

Source: National Post April 19, 2021 20:36 UTC