Diabetes and Taxes

The original article ‘No new sales tax on fast food’ was written by Robert Benzie, and was published in the Toronto Star on November 12th, 2009. (Original)

The Ontario government is offering a kickback from the new HST implementation, in the hopes to take away some of the rage Ontario residents are feeling at the moment over this new tax. No new sales tax on any fast food or value meals under $4. This includes coffee and newspapers as well.

Overlooking the fact that this is a slap in the face to any Canadian who has to pay more than $4 for a bag of milk, this has other negative backlashes which may not be obvious at first. According the World Health Organization, from 1995 to 2005, diabetes went up 70% in Canada alone.

Now, while it’s difficult to just point the finger at fast food outlets, it is not beyond recognition that diabetes is caused by an unhealthy diet.

In 2002, Time Magazine published an article named ‘A Food Fight Against McDonald’s’. The article followed the story of two children named Ashley Pelman, and 14, Jazlyn Bradley, 19, who suffered from obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure as well as many other health problems. The two had been eating McDonalds on almost a daily basis since they were both young. While nothing can be proved, the evidence is clear, the two had eaten nothing but fast food for most of their lives.

Now the government is offering a rebate on foods that are high in sugar, high in fat, and extremely unhealthy to our diet. The question is why? Well, it’s entirely possible that the government recognizes the amount of business being filtered into this industry everyday. Tim Horton’s alone can more than likely report record business on a daily basis, and it’s rare to find a Tim Horton’s drive thru that isn’t gridlocked with caffeine lusting consumers.

Whatever the reason, while probably easing the tensions of most value-added Canadians, the government is not really providing us with a true kickback. Why not provide Canadians with less tax on groceries, or clothing, things that many Canadians find themselves having trouble purchasing due to cutbacks and layoffs.

While HST may benefit our country in the long run, what may benefit our people is an ease on the charge of everyday necessities that some Canadians may find themselves start to go without. Tax reduced coffee doesn’t help a poverty stricken Canadian keep their family clothed and fed. That’s as certain as diabetes and taxes.

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