Quebec is poised to become the second province in Canada in recent weeks to eliminate provincial sales taxes on food-related items. Unlike Manitoba, however, Quebec is taking a broader and arguably more pragmatic approach by extending relief to healthier, ready-to-eat products and convenience foods. That distinction matters. Too often, public policy assumes that only “junk food” is taxed, when in reality many prepared and nutritious options remain subject to provincial sales taxes simply because they are convenient. Quebec’s new measure, expected to cost more than $100 million annually, acknowledges an important reality of modern food consumption: Convenience is no longer a luxury. For many Canadians, it is a necessity.

The average household is expected to save roughly $50 annually. Critics will argue that the savings are insignificant and from a purely macroeconomic standpoint, they are correct. Fifty dollars will not solve Canada’s affordability crisis. But food taxation has always been about more than arithmetic. Retail taxes disproportionately penalize seniors on fixed incomes, individuals living alone and consumers who either cannot cook regularly or simply choose not to. Preparing meals for one person every single day is neither economical nor particularly motivating. In many cases, ready-to-eat meals reduce food waste........

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