Meet the Menstruators Fighting Canada's 'Tampon Tax'

[Panich52]

Meet the Menstruators Fighting Canada's 'Tampon Tax'

A Q&A with two young activists leading a campaign for tax exemption.
By Sarah Berman / The Tyee

It's an uncomfortable conversation at first, but once a tax exemption on menstrual products is in place, you won't even notice it's there.

That's the tongue-in-cheek messaging Jill Piebiak and Kathleen Fraser have packed into a petition calling for Canadian tax law to reclassify tampons as "essential" medical devices like contact lenses or adult diapers. The campaign supports NDP MP Irene Mathyssen's private member's bill to drop GST on all things "that time of the month." Since January, the petition has amassed over 50,000 online signatures, fuelling similar debate in France, the U.K. and Australia.

While it may read like a fun ad parody, the petition points to a serious barrier for low-income women. The Winnipeg Free Press recently ran a story about a local food bank receiving 6,909 requests for menstrual products, with only 125 of them filled.

...

The government doesn't charge federal sales tax on goods and services deemed "essential." Houses, groceries and medical items already fall under this category. A growing list of Canadians agree the definition should include tampons, pads and other menstrual hygiene products -- but tabling the idea in Parliament has proven no easy task.

The Tyee reached Piebiak and Fraser via Skype to chat about the challenges they face getting Stephen Harper to talk about periods.

Greetings fellow menstruators. How did you first get acquainted with Canada's list of "essential" tax-exempt products?

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http://www.alternet.org/gender/meet-menstruators-fighting-canadas-tampon-tax?akid=12842.1924881.DBN1Dc&rd=1&src=newsletter1032667&t=17

[Warpy]

1. Boston had that battle 40 years ago

I think it was finally decreed from on high that paper products were all conveniences. Our grandmothers did just fine with pads made out of old rags left over from cleaning windows and we should do the same if we don't want to pay taxes on our monthly necessities.

[Panich52]

2. Notice that their "essential medical devices" includes adult diapers, which men also use.

We're back to that 'choice' argument: if men used tampons, they'd be "essential medical devices."

Tho it does surprise me that toilet paper, an asexual object, isn't covered by SNAP. I suppose it's because women usually are the purchasers?

[Politicalboi]

3. My "friend" appeared on this day in 1974, I was 13

I'm weird like that remembering dates that no one every thinks about twice. LOL! Lasted 36 years almost to the day. I had been invited to a slumber party that Friday night. I managed, but what timing for me. I later learned there would be more surprises throughout the years with timing. I always thought that stuff should be a tax write off. $5.00 a month for tampons is $60.00 bucks a year. 5 years free this week.

[Demeter]

4. We've still got a long way to go, baby

and it's depressing as hell.

[niyad]

5. just wondering--are penile pumps regarded as "essential medical devices"?