Canada's Experiment with Children's Fitness and Activity Tax Credits

Abstract

This thesis evaluates the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit and similar credits to determine whether they are suitable to increase physical activity levels in Canada. It begins by reviewing the literature on physical activity to establish that increasing physical activity is a worthy public policy goal. It then reviews the literature on tax expenditures and health behaviour interventions to provide information in order to evaluate the credits. The credits are then described and their stated purpose is discussed. This description establishes how quickly the credits expanded from one small credit to many. One of the credits, the Active Families Benefit, requires a new concept to evaluate it as it is not simply a tax measure or a spending measure. The term hybrid tax measure is introduced to explore this credit. An evaluation of the credits considering their effectiveness, efficiency and equity in determining their suitability to increase physical activity is performed and the conclusion is made that they are unlikely to be effective and that the inequity of the credits is problematic, particularly in light of this ineffectiveness finding. It is recommended that the credits be repealed and no new credits be created, but as repeal is unlikely, alternative recommendations are also provided.