Cutting the Sugar Tax Won’t Cut it on Affordability
- NL NDP
- 1 minute ago
- 2 min read
For Immediate Release
May 14, 2025
NDP MHA Jordan Brown (Labrador West) pressed the government today to commit to maintain the programs that are funded by the sugar tax, something that Premier Hogan announced would be cut earlier this week, and truly address affordability.
Premier Hogan said that he was removing the sugar tax because he heard on the doors during the leadership race that the cost of living was impacting many across the province. While it shouldn’t have taken campaigning for him to recognize this, Brown says that now that the Premier has become aware of the true burden of the cost of living crisis, will he remove HST from home heating.
“People have to heat their homes. It is not an option,” Brown said. “I ask the Premier, will you listen to the NDP and remove the HST from all forms of home heating to help more seniors, students, and families with the cost of living?”
Currently, revenue from the sugar tax goes toward programs such as school lunches for students, the glucose monitoring program, and the pre-natal infant nutrition supplement. While Brown says he would have liked to see the money go towards making the cost of healthy food lower, he says that we must ensure these programs are still available for those who need them.
“Diabetes and pre-diabetes impacts 1 in 3 people in this province. The revenue from the Sugar Tax went towards the glucose monitoring program, and now Diabetes Canada is wondering how government will support those with diabetes with the loss of revenue,” Brown said. “I ask the Premier, will you finally sign on to the Federal Pharmacare program which includes provincial funds for medications, along with glucose monitors and test strips?”
Brown pressed government commit to funding the school breakfast and lunch program so that students across this province are able to have a healthy, hot meal in school.
“Surely the Premier isn’t going to reduce funding to this program, so I ask him will you commit to fully funding and expanding this program when the sugar tax is lifted?” Brown asked the Premier.
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca