The Financial Post reports in its Saturday, Aug. 3, edition that Google will be adding an extra 2.5-per-cent charge for ads shown in Canada, starting in October. A Canadian Press dispatch to the Post reports that this increase is due to the Liberal government's digital services tax, which will impose a 3-per-cent levy on foreign tech giants that earn revenue from Canadian users. Google said the surcharge is intended to help cover some of the costs associated with complying with the tax. The Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada said on its website last week, "This will increase the cost of running ads on Google and will likely spur similar action on the part of other platforms if they decide to follow suit." The Computer and Communications Industry Association, which represents big tech companies including Amazon, Apple and Uber, previously called on United States President Joe Biden's administration to take formal steps under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The Information Technology Industry Council, whose membership includes Google, Meta, Apple and Amazon, also urged the Biden administration to "immediately address Canada's measure that targets U.S. companies and attempts to ring-fence the digital economy."