[andyt]

I thought to get the activity credit you had to present proof you actually paid for a qualifying activity? You going to have people send in their grocery receipts? Also it would have to be a refundable credit, otherwise it's just a boutique cut for Smugsville residents.

Better to just subsidize produce.

Nobody is talking about humane meats here. Totally different discussion.

[Zipperfish]

andyt andyt:

Doc suggests eliminating subsidies. As for fruits and vegetables, since when have they been taxed?

Actually subsidies for fruits and vegges sound like a good idea, since many people struggle to buy them. Build local plants to freeze local produce that is subsidized. This would help build up local agriculture, instead of relying on California and Mexico. The produce would be harvested at peak ripeness, instead of when it's green, so even after freezing would have at least the same nutritive value as the "fresh" stuff from down south, if not more.

And pay for it with taxes on the junk food to discourage people buying it - the way tobacco taxes reduced tobacco consumption.

Again, if there are health costs from eating junk food, then the most effective and fair way of dealing with it would be through a privatized medical system, where the risk for each individual would be decided upon by an actuary. If you are deemed to cost a lot to the health system, this will be reflected in your insurance premiums. Just like the automotive insurance industry--good behaviour is rewarded.

[Zipperfish]

andyt andyt:

I thought to get the activity credit you had to present proof you actually paid for a qualifying activity? You going to have people send in their grocery receipts? Also it would have to be a refundable credit, otherwise it's just a boutique cut for Smugsville residents.

I was going to suggest increasing the activity subsidy. Being active often naturally leads to healthier food choices.

[andyt]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

andyt andyt:

Doc suggests eliminating subsidies. As for fruits and vegetables, since when have they been taxed?

Actually subsidies for fruits and vegges sound like a good idea, since many people struggle to buy them. Build local plants to freeze local produce that is subsidized. This would help build up local agriculture, instead of relying on California and Mexico. The produce would be harvested at peak ripeness, instead of when it's green, so even after freezing would have at least the same nutritive value as the "fresh" stuff from down south, if not more.

And pay for it with taxes on the junk food to discourage people buying it - the way tobacco taxes reduced tobacco consumption.

Again, if there are health costs from eating junk food, then the most effective and fair way of dealing with it would be through a privatized medical system, where the risk for each individual would be decided upon by an actuary. If you are deemed to cost a lot to the health system, this will be reflected in your insurance premiums. Just like the automotive insurance industry--good behaviour is rewarded.

Argue for private care all you want, it's not going to fly with Canadians. Thank God. And obesity is a far worse problem in the land of the private medical system, so your argument doesn't even make sense.

[andyt]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

andyt andyt:

I thought to get the activity credit you had to present proof you actually paid for a qualifying activity? You going to have people send in their grocery receipts? Also it would have to be a refundable credit, otherwise it's just a boutique cut for Smugsville residents.

I was going to suggest increasing the activity subsidy. Being active often naturally leads to healthier food choices.

So you tell some poor family to spend thousands on hockey for their kids and they'll get a few hundred back down the road?

[Xort]

The push for low fat diets has followed directly on with raising obesity rates. After around 40 years of failure, it seems like aw shucks me made a mistake and that advice is being revised.

Cut subsidies to food production, including the requirement in the US for bio fuels.

Taxes are not a solution to any problem other than needing more money. They are not a solution to smoking, CO2 emissions, drinking, or anything else. Education works to a degree but superior replacements are much better.

[DrCaleb]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Allow meats to advertise that they are free range, or humane (currently not allowed under CFIA labelling laws) would be another good one.

Because often, it's a lie. Putting 30 birds in a cage that used to hold 60 is sometimes the definition of 'humane'. Giving birds 1 square foot of roaming space on a floor with a thousand other birds is what 'free range' means to some producers.

[Yogi]

Tomorrow will be exactly 7 years ago I posted a thread 'Junkfood will be the new tobacco'. Is this where/when I get to say " I TOLD YOU SO"!

[Strutz]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Allow meats to advertise that they are free range, or humane (currently not allowed under CFIA labelling laws) would be another good one.

Because often, it's a lie. Putting 30 birds in a cage that used to hold 60 is sometimes the definition of 'humane'. Giving birds 1 square foot of roaming space on a floor with a thousand other birds is what 'free range' means to some producers.

That's terrible.

Obviously the guidelines for using those terms are vague and/or not verified then?

[DrCaleb]

Strutz Strutz:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Allow meats to advertise that they are free range, or humane (currently not allowed under CFIA labelling laws) would be another good one.

Because often, it's a lie. Putting 30 birds in a cage that used to hold 60 is sometimes the definition of 'humane'. Giving birds 1 square foot of roaming space on a floor with a thousand other birds is what 'free range' means to some producers.

That's terrible.

Obviously the guidelines for using those terms are vague and/or not verified then?

There really are no 'guidelines' for the treatment of poultry. There are 'codes of practice', but few laws dealing with labeling standards or how the animals are raised.

[stratos]

Just remember they will have to tax all chocolate products.

[Zipperfish]

andyt andyt:

Argue for private care all you want, it's not going to fly with Canadians. Thank God. And obesity is a far worse problem in the land of the private medical system, so your argument doesn't even make sense.

Obesity may be a problem, but it's not my problem. I'm not trying to sell anyone my ideas, just stating my point of view, like everyone else here.

One question I have: Who costs the system more? The guy who washes down his fries with a liter of coke and kicks off due to a massive coronary at 65 right after he retires, or the health nut who's still going at 95? That's thirty years of non-productive living. Thirty years of CPP, thirty years of senior citizen tax breaks, thirty years of living off our health system without paying into it.

If you really want to save the system money, the government should send everyone who retires a carton of smokes and a $100 MickeyD's gift certificate.

[wildrosegirl]

andyt andyt:

certainly a good plan for the funeral business.

So be it then. If someone wants to eat themself to death let them. Why should our health care system be drained by someone that causes themself a condition that is 100% preventable.

[Zipperfish]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Because often, it's a lie. Putting 30 birds in a cage that used to hold 60 is sometimes the definition of 'humane'. Giving birds 1 square foot of roaming space on a floor with a thousand other birds is what 'free range' means to some producers.

Maybe it's a lie. But so is the "New and Improved" sticker on the detergent.

Actually--I have to correct my earlier claim. It was not "organic" that the Safeway people removed, it was "non-GMO."

[Zipperfish]

wildrosegirl wildrosegirl:

So be it then. If someone wants to eat themself to death let them. Why should our health care system be drained by someone that causes themself a condition that is 100% preventable.

Exactly. And with a user pay medical system, your resources would not be drained, and you wouldn't have to spend your time wondering what unhealthy things your neighbour is up to!