e-6853 (Taxation)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• Celiac disease (CD) is a serious autoimmune disorder in which the ingestion of gluten damages the small intestine and negatively impacts many other organ systems in the body;
• It is estimated that CD affects one percent of the Canadian population, or 400,000 children and adults;
• The only known treatment for CD is a strict gluten-free diet for life;
• The prices of gluten-free foods are 150-500% higher than their gluten-containing counterparts;
• Under the Medical Exemption Tax Credit (METC), persons with CD can claim the incremental costs associated with buying gluten-free food products as a medical expense;
• According Celiac Canada’s 2024 State of Celiac Survey, 75% of Canadians with CD find the gluten-free diet to be expensive and only 1 in 5 have claimed the incremental cost of the gluten-free diet on their income tax;
• The METC is administratively burdensome, disadvantages patients with low health or financial literacy, and the credit is non-refundable, providing little benefit to the most vulnerable Canadians with CD; and
• The Prime Minister’s mandate letter to Cabinet identifies as a priority “bringing down costs for Canadians and helping them to get ahead”.