If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
The Junk Food ban Again
Tax junk food to fight obesity, top doctor says
Mar.*22, 2006. 05:54*PM CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA ‹ Junk food should be taxed to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity, says Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai, president of the Canadian Medical Association. Collins-Nakai, a cardiologist who works with young people, says Canada has the second-highest rate of pre-school obesity in the world, after China. "Healthy choices should be cheaper and more readily available," she said after a speech today to the Canadian Club. "The corollary is that you make unhealthy choices less available and one way to do that is to tax them. Certainly it works for cigarettes." Her comments go beyond a resolution passed at the CMA's last general meeting, which called on governments to ban junk food sales at all schools in Canada. Bill Jeffery of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest said many health organizations have already called for a fat tax, including the World Health Organization. "She's in good company," he said. Collins-Nakai said children's health is being forgotten at a time of increasing baby-boomer demands on the health system. Canada now ranks in the bottom third of OECD countries for child mortality, while as recently as the 1980s it ranked in the top third, she said. "This decline is a national disgrace. We simply must do more for child health." Collins-Nakai also used her Canadian Club appearance to comment on the controversy over public versus private health care. She said the CMA has drawn up a list of principles that should be applied to both sectors. The principles include timely access, equity, choice, comprehensiveness, quality and efficiency ‹ but there's no reference to the Canada Health Act. The CMA supports the Conservative government's promise to establish "care guarantees" which would allow patients to visit another jurisdiction if they cannot get timely care at home. Collins-Nakai said she was disappointed that Alberta did not include care guarantees in its so-called third way health reform proposals. She said the Alberta strategy could pit public-health care providers against private providers. She also asked who will regulate Quebec's health system, following its recent reforms, to ensure quality care in the private sector. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
The Junk Food ban Again
"Carol Frilegh" wrote in message ... Tax junk food to fight obesity, top doctor says Mar. 22, 2006. 05:54 PM CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA Junk food should be taxed to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity, says Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai, president of the Canadian Medical Association. Collins-Nakai, a cardiologist who works with young people, says Canada has the second-highest rate of pre-school obesity in the world, after China. "Healthy choices should be cheaper and more readily available," she said after a speech today to the Canadian Club. "The corollary is that you make unhealthy choices less available and one way to do that is to tax them. Certainly it works for cigarettes." Her comments go beyond a resolution passed at the CMA's last general meeting, which called on governments to ban junk food sales at all schools in Canada. Bill Jeffery of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest said many health organizations have already called for a fat tax, including the World Health Organization. "She's in good company," he said. Collins-Nakai said children's health is being forgotten at a time of increasing baby-boomer demands on the health system. Canada now ranks in the bottom third of OECD countries for child mortality, while as recently as the 1980s it ranked in the top third, she said. "This decline is a national disgrace. We simply must do more for child health." Collins-Nakai also used her Canadian Club appearance to comment on the controversy over public versus private health care. She said the CMA has drawn up a list of principles that should be applied to both sectors. The principles include timely access, equity, choice, comprehensiveness, quality and efficiency but there's no reference to the Canada Health Act. The CMA supports the Conservative government's promise to establish "care guarantees" which would allow patients to visit another jurisdiction if they cannot get timely care at home. Collins-Nakai said she was disappointed that Alberta did not include care guarantees in its so-called third way health reform proposals. She said the Alberta strategy could pit public-health care providers against private providers. She also asked who will regulate Quebec's health system, following its recent reforms, to ensure quality care in the private sector. The thing I'm not sure about is how you define junk food. It's kind of the thing that "we all know when we see it" but you couldn't define it in legislation like that and you couldn't define it on fat or sugar. I don't think we are talking about olive oil or organic honey. It would be tricky. I remember the UK court case about Jaffa Cakes when it was fought by McVities on whether they were cakes or biscuits because one attracted tax and one didn't. Can't remember which one won or which way round! But I can see endless law suits out there. -- Rachael 176/114/119 http://www.justgiving.com/rachaelreynolds |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
The Junk Food ban Again
Carol Frilegh wrote in message ... Tax junk food to fight obesity, top doctor says Mar. 22, 2006. 05:54 PM CANADIAN PRESS "The corollary is that you make unhealthy choices less available and one way to do that is to tax them. Certainly it works for cigarettes." It doesn't work for cigarettes and that is precisely why they are taxed. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
The Junk Food ban Again
you're right about that...they would be almost free without the
tax...awareness of how they destroy your health and making smoking socially unacceptable like banning smoking in public is a better approach...govt. is addicted to the taxes...smoking is uncool Matthew Venhaus wrote: Carol Frilegh wrote in message ... Tax junk food to fight obesity, top doctor says Mar. 22, 2006. 05:54 PM CANADIAN PRESS "The corollary is that you make unhealthy choices less available and one way to do that is to tax them. Certainly it works for cigarettes." It doesn't work for cigarettes and that is precisely why they are taxed. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Beware McDonald's burger patties! | [email protected] | Low Carbohydrate Diets | 41 | January 3rd, 2006 01:58 PM |
Please share your dietary wisdom | Wanwo | General Discussion | 42 | August 16th, 2005 10:46 PM |
Newbie alert :) | Kasey | General Discussion | 22 | October 15th, 2004 12:15 AM |
"Food for Fuel" vs. "Food is LOVE & Food is FUN" | vlcd_hell | General Discussion | 14 | February 15th, 2004 03:15 PM |
New Target of the Food Police (CSPI) | jmk | General Discussion | 74 | December 24th, 2003 01:40 AM |