Quebec is poised to become the second province in Canada in recent weeks to eliminate provincial sales taxes on food-related items. Unlike Manitoba, however, Quebec is taking a broader and arguably more pragmatic approach by extending relief to healthier, ready-to-eat products and convenience foods. That distinction matters. Too often, public policy assumes that only “junk food” is taxed, when in reality many prepared and nutritious options remain subject to provincial sales taxes simply because they are convenient. Quebec’s new measure, expected to cost more than $100 million annually, acknowledges an important reality of modern food consumption: Convenience is no longer a luxury. For many Canadians, it is a necessity.
CHARLEBOIS: Dispelling Canada’s grocery tax illusion
