VICTORIA — The chairman of the Childhood Obesity Foundation says a new tax on sugary soda will improve the health of British Columbia’s children.
Dr. Tom Warshawski says studies show sugary drinks contribute to obesity, a leading cause of Type 2 diabetes, and health outcomes have improved in jurisdictions where sugar taxes are levied.
He says he’s been lobbying the B.C. government for the last five years to tax sugary soda drinks to improve children’s health.
Finance Minister Carole James announced in her budget yesterday that the seven per cent provincial sales tax will now be added to soda drinks that have sugar.
The minister said the all-party finance committee’s previous recommendations in support of a sugar tax on drinks contributed to her government’s decision to include the tax in the budget.
The tax goes into effect on July 1 and it is forecast to generate $27 million in revenues in 2020-2021.
This report by The Canadian Press was first publish on February 19, 2020.
The Canadian Press
