Below is a sample letter that you can copy and paste into an email or word document and submit to your government representative.
Find your MLA here.
Subject: Support for a Levy on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Alberta
Dear MLA [Recipient Name]:
I am writing to you today to voice my support for a 50 cent per litre levy on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Alberta to reduce consumption of these unhealthy products and generate revenue for the province, a portion of which should be used to fund health promotion and chronic disease prevention initiatives.
SSbs, which include soft drinks and energy drinks, are a source of unnecessary added sugar in the diet. They offer virtually no health benefits and have been linked to serious chronic conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Chronic conditions, in turn, place an enormous burden on Albertan’s quality of life. Despite this, SSBs are relatively inexpensive, widely available and marketed by an aggressive industry.
A levy on SSBs will reduce consumption of these unhealthy products. Revenue generated from a levy should also be used to fund health promotion initiatives aimed at keeping Albertans healthy and out of the hospital.