Doctors want tax on junk food: Knowledge Driven Revolution

[KDR: How about removing tax on things that are "healthy"? But that would not take more money out of our hands.]

The Medical Society of P.E.I. is calling for a junk food tax, saying people who eat unhealthy food should pay the price of their choices.

The call comes in a resolution passed at the society's annual general meeting this weekend.

Dr. Christine MacNearney, who moved the resolution, said a tax will discourage people from buying food that hurts their health.

"We've got a huge epidemic in the Western world of diabetes in adults and children, and obesity rates are just skyrocketing," she said.

"It's very much what we have available to eat. If things cost more, that's the best disincentive for them to be purchased. It works for tobacco."

Health Minister Chester Gillan said educating young people about healthy eating is the government's main focus. His major concern with drafting legislation for a tax is defining what is junk food and what isn't.

"I had a presentation here … of a french fry opportunity here not too long ago, when they explained what changes they have been able to make in french fries," said Gillan.

"It is good. Very educational."

But Gillan says he hasn't ruled out the idea of putting some sort of sin tax on junk food in the future, if someone can come up with a definition people can swallow.

Doctors passed a number of other resolutions at the society's annual meeting.

They want the government to ban cosmetic pesticides on the Island, smoking banned at all organized outdoor sporting events, and they want new roads on the Island to have bicycle lanes.

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