The sugar sweetened beverage tax introduced in 2022 is a positive initiative that’s here to stay, that’s according to Finance Minister Siobhan Coady.

The minister says the tax, which came amid rising grocery costs, is an effective way to combat a number of health issues.

She says the province has one of the worst health outcomes in Canada with some of the highest rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Implementing a tax to discourage sugar consumption allows the province to take a step forward to becoming a healthier province.

She says the sugar tax is just one of the initiatives the province has put forward in hopes of becoming one of the healthiest provinces by 2031.

Coady says people can benefit from the physical activity tax credit, which provides a rebate to those who sign up for gym memberships and other activity leagues.