Every month, when I find myself running to the nearest Tesco’s in a blind panic because I’ve forgotten to stock up on tampons (again), only to realise I’m down to my last £2, I find myself cursing our society for making us pay just to ebb the flow of nature. I mean really, what’s up with the government making us part with our hard earned cash just to deal with what comes with being a woman?
It’s an outrage, it’s a scandal, and Canada has decided to do something about it.
The Canadian government has declared that come the July 1, 2015, ‘Tampon Tax’ will be no more. And it’s not only tampons that are included in the motion: sanitary napkins, sanitary belts and menstrual cups will also be tax-free. (Hurrah!)
Following the government’s announcement on Thursday, Irene Mathyssen, a New Democrats Party MP who sponsored a private member’s bill on the issue, was overjoyed.
She said, ‘This is a victory for all women. It shows what a group of determined women and citizens can do.’
Initially the motion wasn’t scheduled to be reviewed until a later date, with Conservatives claiming that it would be addressed in a future budget. Mathyssen believes that it was the thousands of signatures on written and online petitions calling for an end to the tax, that prompted the motion’s speedy address.
The New Democrats have been trying to pass a bill to eliminate the tax since 2004. However, they began to demand that the government amend its budget implementation bill so the ‘tampon tax’ could be removed immediately, following a vote at a party opposition day last month, where all parties supported the NDP motion.
Removing the tax is estimated to be costing the Canadian government nothing short of $36 million.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel told reporters, ‘I think this is just a very positive move for Canadian women and in alignment with our government’s record in this regard.’
So there you have it, one small step for the Canadian government, one giant leap for womankind. In Canada. Now what about us? Come on Cameron, get it together!
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.