Published by Senator Jane Cordy on 15 February 2012
In 2006 former Health Minister Tony Clement, established a Trans Fat Task Force. The task force recommended legislation to limit trans fat content to two percent of total fat content in margarine and five percent in all other foods in Canada. The minister gave industry two years to voluntarily reduce levels of trans fat in their products.
Trans fats which enhance the flavour of food and extend the shelf life are not a necessary added ingredient in any food. Many governments around the world have regulated trans fat levels and in many cases have banned trans fat all together from restaurants.
Studies have shown that trans fat is a major contributor to heart disease and according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is attributed to 3,000 – 5,000 premature deaths in Canada each year.
It is now four years after the Trans Fat Task Force recommendations and industry has not voluntarily reduced trans fat levels to meet federal targets. Yet this government has failed to bring forward the promised regulations. Why? It turns out in 2009 that Health Minister Aglukkaq quietly killed the plan which would have regulated trans fat levels in Canadian’s food.
It is happening all too frequently with this government; a department sets up a working group, such as this one on trans fats or the one on sodium; departmental officials spend valuable time and money on an issue and prepare briefing notes to the minister to indicate why action should be taken. Then, at the last minute, after all that time and money is spent, the minister caves in to lobbying from industry and rejects the data and the advice of experts.
It is time for this government to realize that the small savings to industry is coming at the very real and substantial cost of Canadian’s health. It is time for the health of Canadians to be a priority for this government. Too many times the health of Canadians and the advice of Health Canada are being ignored in favour of big business by this government.