The provincial government has come out with its “Rethink Your Drink” campaign ahead of the September 1 sugar tax, but the Retail Council of Canada believes government’s messaging may be too little too late for its members.
Atlantic Director Jim Cormier says they have been asking for such a campaign to be launched ever since last year, and he calls it “troubling” that government is only launching it with a few weeks to go.
He says that’s problematic because retailers will want to use that government messaging in store in various ways to let customers know about what they will be paying. He says that takes some time to do, and he’s afraid that government has waited so long that many members will not have in-store advertising ready for September 1.
As for preparations for the sugar tax as a whole, Cormier states that some members are ready to go, but many still have lots of questions.
He cites some of the more technical questions such as if a drink product is included in a gift basket, does the sugar tax have to be applied? Cormier says there are a lot of questions, but not a lot of clear answers.
(File photo.)
Meanwhile, Opposition Critic Tony Wakeham is reacting to government’s healthy beverage campaign.
He calls the campaign an attempt for the government to justify their “latest tax grab.”
Wakeham says he finds irony in Minister Siobhan Coady saying they hope they don’t collect much on the tax because people will choose better options, yet they announce that the money has been earmarked for several different initiatives and organizations—such as Kids Eat Smart.
He says such programs have been funded by government before, and should be funded by government. He says they should not be “held hostage” by having their funding depend on another tax on people in the province.
