At some point, as our population ages and health care costs continue to soar, Canadians are going to have The Debate about the government's role in legislating healthy lifestyles.
Last year, the Danish government introduced a "fat tax" by adding about 16 Kroner, or $2.87, per kilogram of saturated fat in each product.
Last month, the city of New York implemented a ban on the sale of sodas and other sugary drinks larger than 16 oz at restaurants, concession stands and other eateries.
Closer to home, in B.C., schools have banned junk food in school cafeterias and vending machines.
We've got to go even further, though. We've got to follow the lead of enterprising governments like those in Denmark and the Big Apple.
It's time we implement our own form of junk food tax.
We all know there's a direct correlation between unhealthy eating habits and higher health care costs. In fact, according to the B.C. government, poor nutrition, along with physical inactivity and tobacco use, are the largest contributors to B.C.'s health-care costs.
"If all British Columbians had a normal, healthy weight for their height, were physically active and did not smoke, the province could avoid over $3.8 billion in economic and health-care costs each year," noted a recent report out of Victoria.
And it's going to get worse: 26% of Canadian children between the ages of two and 17 years are considered overweight or obese - a dramatic increase from the 1980s. And fat, unhealthy kids turn into fat, unhealthy adults who cost our health care system proportionately more than the average healthy person.
Studies regarding the success of junk food taxes and their impact on eating habits are still inconclusive. But, at the very least, they'll raise money for our health care system.
Let me be clear: I don't want my tax dollars going to pay the medical bills of people whose daily lunches consist of a hot dog, a super-sized pop and a bag of chips.
If you want to eat unhealthy foods, you should have to suffer the consequences of higher medical bills.
Governments have tried educating people about the dangers of eating fatty foods and that's not working.
It's time we start taxing the heck out of junk food.
