Vancouver Sun: Province bans junk food in hospitals, public buildings

[Stop TILMA!]

All,

I wanted to flag this article from the Vancouver Sun today reporting
on the implementation of the junk food ban in BC. You might remember
that a few months ago a legal opinion was commissioned from trade
expert and lawyer Steven Shrybman re TILMA and this junk food ban in
public schools as part of the healthy schools initiative. He finds the
ban susceptible to a challenge from an Alberta investor who could make
a claim based on their 'right' to sell junk food to the BC market. to
I've included the link to the legal opinion below.

It should be noted that it is important to understand and support
community initiatives crafted to support steps towards building a
better society, and not let TILMA impede good decisions. Rather, the
legal opinion serves as an indicator of the mess TILMA has gotten us
into, and helps our case for exemption to municipalities, school
boards, health authorities, (the province), etc. If you choose to use
the legal opinion for purposes such as letters to the editor, etc,
please make clear the difference between pro-community democracy and
education about TILMA.

I also look forward to continued good news about municipalities
banning the purchasing of bottled water, and hope that they will not
shy away from such steps, for fear of a TILMA challenge. If this
becomes the case - we will be ready!

http://stoptilma.googlegroups.com/web/Memorandum%20Re%20-%20TILMA.pdf?gda=fyZgCUoAAABFOp1g1HaJRU4PDPquY7WByHIt8u0DJclOjc6DfB3ALGG1qiJ7UbTIup-M2XPURDSfWt0WF05r3uO2uEnmLtkEP03kt8ECBoNoB8LV4xW9ug
OR
http://tinyurl.com/57jaor

Best,
Carleen

Province bans junk food in hospitals, public buildings;
Food, drink sold in provincially funded facilities must meet
nutritional guidelines
The Vancouver Sun
Wed 25 Jun 2008
Byline: Darah Hansen
Source: Vancouver Sun

Beginning this month, visitors to B.C. hospitals will find it
difficult to trade a loonie for a bag of greasy potato chips or a can
of sugary soda from public vending machines.

Instead, their snack choices will be increasingly directed toward
healthier options such as bran and granola bars or dried fruit.

The move by health authorities -- formally announced Tuesday by Health
Minister George Abbott at Vancouver General Hospital -- is part of a
Liberal government strategy to remove junk food from vending machines
in all public buildings across the province.

Under the new policy, food and drinks sold in vending machines in
provincially funded public buildings must meet nutritional guidelines
approved by the Ministry of Health. The goal is to reduce soaring
provincial health-care costs by promoting individual health.

Public buildings include those that are owned or leased by the
province, including hospitals, public universities and colleges, and
Crown corporations.

The policy also extends to all vending machines managed by provincial
public-sector bodies. The policy follows a directive earlier this year
from the provincial government to remove junk food from school vending
machines as of January in an effort to address rising rates of
childhood obesity.

Many school officials worried the junk-food ban would result in a loss
of revenue, especially in large high schools where vending machines
dispensing pop, candy and chips can bring in $30,000 a year or more.

Health authorities, however, don't share those concerns. James
Nesbitt, spokesman for Vancouver Coastal Health, said revenues from
hospital vending machines make up a "miniscule" portion ($135,000) of
the authority's $2.4 billion annual budget. "Vending machines are a
convenience," he said. "They are not a revenue source."

Fraser Health Authority officials also support the policy.

daha...@png.canwest.com