Only On The Walters Post

I’m not here to tell folks what to think — just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.”

So here’s the thing, folks. In Ontario, if you go out and buy a fresh steak, some raw chicken, maybe a pork roast to cook at home, there is no tax on it. Not a penny. But if you toss a pack of bacon or a few slices of deli ham in the cart, suddenly you are hit with thirteen percent tax.

And you would think that would be the other way around, wouldn’t you?

Turns out, we are paying more for the stuff that is worse for us, and less for the stuff that is actually real food. Now that might sound a bit backwards, but if you look a little closer, it starts to make perfect sense. Just not in the way most folks might expect.

You see, the government knows exactly what people are buying. They know folks are busy, tired, and looking for something quick. Processed meats, packaged food, ready-to-eat meals, well those are the things that fill the carts. And that is what gets taxed. Not because it is unhealthy, but because it sells.

They will tell you fresh meat is zero-rated because it is a basic grocery item. Sure, that is the reason written on paper. But do not mistake that for looking out for your health. They are not doing you a favour. They are just collecting more$ off what is already flying off the shelves. It is not about steering you toward better choices. It is about taking a cut from the ones you are already making.

And the crazy part? Most folks do not even notice. They just keep paying and moving on, figuring that is how it has always been. But take a second, next time you are at the store. Look at what is taxed and what is not. Real food, the kind you cook from scratch, gets left alone. The quick stuff, the salty stuff, the plastic-wrapped meat packed with preservatives, that is the stuff they are charging you extra for.

So what does that tell you?

It tells me someone is watching what we buy, and they are making money off it. Plain and simple.

Now, I am not saying folks should not buy what they want. That is their choice. But do not think for a second that the government is helping you make better ones. They are just following the money and getting their share along the way.

“Until the next time, keep your mind open and your stories alive.” GW