Instead of targeting the consumers, gov't regulators should be looking toward food producers and providing incentives for them to stop putting so much junk in our food supply to begin with. A lot of processed foods contain far too much sugar and salt, not to mention artificial colors, flavors, preservatives etc that really do not need to be there. You could tax the junk that food suppliers put in our food supply - but that would just get passed on to the consumer by corporations. After all - sugar is big business. I agree it's unfair that eating healthy is so much more expensive than cheaply produced inferior goods. A question though for those who cite the relative cost of pop as an incentive to drink it: If you're on a tight budget - why would you spend money on something with no nutritional value (other than maybe a sugar kick) when there's clean water coming out of the tap that you're paying for anyway? Maybe the issue should be making healthy foods cheaper to produce & buy, not making junk food more expensive.

I understand why Canada would want to tax sugary drinks, but i'm not sure it will stop consumers from buying them. Although an extra 13% might seem like a pain, consumers will most likely still buy the drink, instead of switching to a healthy alternative. Firstly, because healthy drinks are not as appealing to younger generations, and secondly because, even with tax, healthier drinks tend to cost more than sugary drinks. So adding the tax will most likely not hinder Canadians from buying these drinks, but irritate them instead, for having to pay even more.

Oh no! Here we go again. Yikes!

Bend over folks, here it comes again...

Beit, we now have another reason for our incompetent reckless spending governing bodies to intervene in our personal affairs and grab yet another user tax? I'm sure McGuinty will jump all over this one with his pointy little head, and both feet jumping with glee and his grubby little money grabber hands rummaging through our pockets once again,..

What's next? Will they soon tax all foods that are not dietetic.... Will they tax people at higher health risk rates if they happen to live in a air-polluted city?

The extreme effort that our government uses to conjure up creative ways to add more new taxation upon the general population, they will just create new ways to recklessly spend rather than cut back on reckless spending and reduce the already out of control deficit. Taxpayers are the moneytree, and there are only so many green leaves to go around.

I think it's about time that bureaucrats let us run our private lives and allow us to make our own lifestyle choices based on the information and knowledge that is widely available. I think government should start to focus on government issues and get their fingers out of our pockets and get out of our personal spaces.

I'm a little confused. In BC, we already pay HST, deposit and an enviro levy on sugary drinks like pop and sports drinks and even flavoured water. On plain old regular juices, no we don't pay HST, but we still pay enviro levies and deposits. Adding tax to plain old apple juice or orange juice would be a bit much. People choose these drinks because they are cheap compared to regular juice. Pop is on sale everyday at grocery stores. 2L of pop will cost as low as $1.00 while the same size orange juice is $3-5 or more, depending on the brand. And the same goes for milk, unfortunately which isn't subject to deposit or enviro levies but will cost $3-4 for the same 2L. If you're on a budget, what would you choose?

If you don't like it. Tax it. Ban it. Burn it. What is wrong with you people ????????

Why do some people think that raising costs in a post-recession economic climate is the supposed answer to everything today? It's been said before that the cost of living is outrageous, we're taxed to death here in Canada. What we need is for a foriegn unbiased entity to audit the government spending, and tot get corporations out of the courts and government. The small people of Canada are being choked and we can't afford to eat healthy anymore. Its easy for a professor or legislator who is bringing in six digit income to champion his or her own ideas about "how to solve problem X". They don't have to deal with the low incomes and limited choices the rest of us have.

Banning school bake sales? that's radicilous... How about Canada starts with educating our children on healthy eating instead of banning once a semester bake sale. Why do public schools have pizza days once a week? What kind of eating habits is this teaching our youngsters. I don't have anything against having a bake sale or pizza day... once in a while (pizza day once a months maybe) but every week? We do not eat pizza at home because it's simply not healthy but our kids have pizza day every week... I know it's optional.. but try telling the kids that everyone will be having a pizza and they will have a soup for lunch.

On taxing unhealthy foods? How do you define unhealthy foods... ok, pop is an obvious one... but for instance butter, there were mixed opinions on butter, cheese, etc... Will government tax these too? I personally think butter is much healthier than margarine (we're a healthy, in shape family that eats a lot of cheese too). Taxing foods will not change anything, people will still buy them... we should focus on education, teaching what right what's not instead of banning stuff.

no, we should not. We get taxed enough as it is and shouldn't be trying to control what people eat and drink.

Sure - but can we make milk and healthier food cheaper? In NS, we pay $3 and up for 2l of milk, vs .99 for 2l of pop - make the healthy more affordable!

what the h is going on in this world today. i'm in my 60"s and have never been healthier. where do all of these so called studies come from. because a handful of people take this survey it means the whole world should change. I DON'T THINK SO. why don't we leave things alone and we will probably be healthier for it as this only causes stress to everyone and you know what stress does this is probably the main problem with everything that is going on in today's world. like the Beatles said "Let It Be"

NANNY STATE!!

what has happened to free choice and free will in our current society?? The real problem is that we have become a very sedentary society!! From work to play and free time we are niot doing enough physical activity!!

In the past our ancestors worked very hard physically digging ditches, mines etc. now it is all be done by machines.

We also have more and more inventions that save us time and use less physical acytivity!!

So as a country we have to be more inclined to incorporate more physical activity in our daily lives!

STOP BLAMING EVERYTHING ELSE!! Look yourself in the mirror and do what has to be done!

KEEP the governmets out of our daily lives! this is up to everyone!

gordon

Why, so we can have the same hypocritical government policies as we now enjoy with alcohol and tobacco? Oh, that is bad for you, but go ahead and indulge, so long as you pay me a cut.

I am sick to death of taxes in Canada. We already pay about half of our income to the gov't in various taxes. What is wrong with you people? Have you voted socialist for so long you can't think any more? We do not need more government in our lives, we need less, much less, and to learn to take care of ourselves.

I drink the odd Coke and I am in fine health. Why should I pay even more money just to enjoy that pleasure? I do not drink alcohol or smoke, I am at a good weight. You people who push for a tax on anything that personally offends you are like the sheep chorus in Orwell's "Animal Farm." You espouse any cause some gov't dweeb tells you to, because you have no critical thinking skills. Those chains you are wearing? You made them yourself by volunteering to be a slave with your constant crying for the government to "do something." And they do, and you pay for it. And I pay for it, because if I do not go along with the program I am labelled a criminal.

Given the fact that our health care is paid for, I think that government should do EVERYTHING possible to have people lead healthier lifestyles. If the Americans are starting to look at the facts, and they have NO government sponsored health care like we do, you can be sure that the overweight, unhealthy lifestyles are a BIG problem and are only going to get worse. Our health care system is already "on lifesupport" and it has to be addressed by everyone, not just government, or soon we will have none. Lets start by allowing doctors NOT to treat people who smoke, drink excessivly, or are obese......sorry folks but your group are the big "hit" on the system. Also governments have to start "leaning on" companies who contribute to these problems, ie: tobbaco cos., food processors, ALL beverage makers, and suppliers, etc. My wife and I have tried to live a more healthy lifestyle for some time now, and read all food and drink lables.......thats an eyeopener. So called, and labled, healthy food is sometimes the biggest problem, ie: :fat free" on a lable, only means it has less or no fats, however they boost the sugar and /or salt content to keep the flavour. More slight of hand than a magician, eh? Yes we all have to try to be healthier, but the tempting items have to be addressed and taken away as well

Are we creating a nanny state? Maybe we have to because People just refuse to change their lifestyle. The fact of the matter is that the rapid increase in media has people glued to televisions, video games and computers. When I grew up there was only television and the only choice in what you saw came from changing the channel, and it was mostly for rainy days and after dark. the rest of the time we were outside engaged in SOME form of physical activity. Obesity was rare(diabetes was almost unheard of), fast food/takeout was a treat, not a lifestyle. It's sad and hypocritical that governments will tax what should be outlawed(think tobbacco). Do the tax revenues go back into the healthcare system to pay for the fallout in the health crisis from those who's health deteriorates because of lifestyle choices? Not likely, and if so, not much. Otherwise why is our healthcare system in such a shambles? Hospitals have to fundraise to buy desperately needed equipment and line ups in emergency rooms run as high as 12 hours. Yet our political leaders spend millions on uneccessary elections to air "attack ads"costing thousands of taxpayer dollars. You can tell that our political leaders have abandoned compassion and embraced ego! Will this insanity EVER end??? To think that taxing junkfood(they already do) will fix the problem is to think that politicians will change if you keep financing their stupidity!

This smells like another tax grab.I work hard to keep my weight down so why should i be punished if i decide to treat myself to something sugary or fatty.

Absolutely imperative that the Government uses the tax system to change the food industry and in turn change eating habits.
There are those who say we have the freedom to choose to eat however want to eat, but that is not true. walk around a grocery store and try and fill your cart with products that are healthy and well balanced - without breaking the bank, and you will find it impossible.
Tax the sugar at source and see how long it takes for the food industry to change the products. Obesity and Diabetes are directly linked to huge quantities of sugar in our diets. if you are not fat in the outside you are probably fat on the inside.

If they are so dangerous just ban them. Taxing wont do anything except line the pockets of the rich some more.

If they arent banned then it means they arent dangerous, hence invalidates the excuse for taxing it.

So its either ban ... or nothing.

Once sugar is taxed out of existance, and people are still fat (and they will be), then what do we tax? Dairy? wheat? Sitting on our asses? What?? Obesity is a product of education. We should tax people like Bloomberg and his idiot advisors. Stupidity is more dangerous than sugar.

To tax more for sugary drinks is the most rediculas idea i have ever heard in my life, we just got out of a severe financial defecit and now we want to make people pay more just for a soft drink?
Please explain to me how you think that taking more money from people will help them want to lose weight? Once obesity is there, it is nobodys fault but your own, there are no excuses, stop blaming obesity on sugary drinks, and focus on the main reason, people for the most part when overweight, hurt when they do phisical fitness, if you are on a tight budget, and then everything gets more expensive, how do you find time to even go for a walk?
JUST A POINT: America generally has ALOT more obese individuals, mainly because portion sizes are dramatically increased, so before you compare the U.S.A with canada, look at all the little details.

Ontario already taxes sugary drinks.

Do you mean an additional tax similar to tobacco and alcohol?

If so say so.

This is stupidity at it's finest. Adding a tax to unhealthy foods will do nothing but increase the cost of food in peoples mind. They will adjust and get used to the new price and life goes on as normal.
Complaining that sugar is the enemy while at the same time understanding the modified corn starch is a particularly harmful sweetener which is added to nearly all processed foods. Then thinking banning a school bake sale (this would imply home baked goods) will make a difference is simply not thought through. How many people do you know that bake there cupcakes, cake, chili, bread, homemade granola bars etc etc etc.... using modified corn starch (I know none). Your Grandparents ate these same home baked goods, it isn't these things that are making everyone fat.
Try banning the use of harmful sweeteners like modified corn starch (the government does control this). Try fixing the problem, not fixing the symptoms. Sadly our medical industry is similar. This frame of mind is completely unproductive.

You guys are crazy i have been skinny my whole life, i have drank many a pops in my life and intake lots of sugar. Quit eating so much damn food a day and you wont be fat./

Canada (provincial & federal) tax sugary drinks at 13% in Ontario, also junk foods such as potato chips, etc. Just another money grab. How about a sur-tax on luxury cars? or a sur-tax on excessive electrical usage? Let people regulate their eating habits. Maybe a non-refundable tax on advertisements directed toward junk foods? In other words - no advertising write offs for these kinds of ads.

no - better parenting skills are the answer !
when it comes to kids - and schools - teach them responsibily -these are not like guns which should be more regulated -