'More than just a fad': Federal petition seeks tax credits for people with celiac disease

A new federal petition has launched calling for a $1,000 refundable tax credit for people with celiac disease like Betsy Hiebert.

Today, Hiebert owns a certified gluten-free bakery in Winnipeg called Cocoa beans gluten freebut more than a decade ago – when she was first diagnosed with celiac disease – she couldn't remember.

“It's really scary because you feel like all your food options have been taken away, like everything you used to be able to eat safely or that you saw as being safe was actually making you sick,” she said.

The disruption of her social life is eating away at her.

“You feel a bit left out. I don't even feel like going out to eat. I don't even want to go out with my friends or family because it just doesn't feel inclusive, right? You can't fully participate as you would have, and I think that alienates you a little bit,” she said.

Then there were – and are – the astronomical costs.

According to data from Celiac Canada, the price of gluten-free foods is 150 to 500 percent higher than their gluten-containing counterparts.

“My husband can eat gluten, he's the only one in the family and he buys his kind of rustic bread for $6.99. Well, my bread costs $11,” Hiebert said as an example, with the cost of truly gluten-free ingredients also being an expense for her bakery.

“A typical bag of oats, probably 50 pounds, probably sells for $40, I think. For us it's $100. So we pay a premium for those designated celiac-safe, gluten-free oats,” she said.

“We're still paying thousands of dollars more than what a wheat-based bakery would pay.”

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The costs are caused by the rarity of gluten-free, certifiable products.

“We grow a lot of oats on the prairies. But guess what? They come into contact with wheat, rye or barley. Whether at field level, at farm level (such as at harvest) or even at the terminal. When you market your oats and they are not traded in a gluten-free terminal, they will become cross-contaminated, meaning they are no longer safe,” Hiebert said.

She is hopeful that as celiac-friendly diets become more common and manufacturing practices align, prices for this medical necessity will drop.

“Because our food must be gluten-free, much of it must be certified… what could fill the head of a pin could make us sick,” said Christa Dubesky, president of the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) Manitoba Chapter.

While it is certainly a headache figuratively speaking, the symptoms can be much more than that.

“When we consume, it is more than just a stomach ache. There are 300 documented symptoms of celiac disease, so it's really a broad spectrum of things that are happening,” Dubesky said.

“It's a bit of a challenge because people don't think it's serious.

“It's more than a fad.”

While people with celiac disease can claim one Medical Exemption Tax Creditit's a complicated and burdensome processwhich for many is not worth it.

“When I was first diagnosed, I collected every receipt over a two-year period and had to figure out the difference in cost between a regular gluten-containing product and a gluten-free product,” says CCA Manitoba Chapter member Melanie Bauer. .

“The first year I spent over $2,000 buying gluten-free flour, bread and grains. The only time it makes a difference is if it is more than three percent of your household income. So if your household income is $50,000, you'll have to spend more than $1,500 to even take it into account on your income taxes.

“After two years of keeping all the receipts and envelopes and bringing everything to my attention, my accountant actually told me it wasn't worth it for me to continue.”

Celiac Canada says only one in five people actually use the program, but many need the extra help.

Bauer said the number of people requesting celiac-friendly baskets from Harvest Manitoba has more than doubled in the past three years.

“When we first started packing, we were doing 50 to 75 (baskets) every few months. And now, like I said, we're almost over 200,” she said, adding more will be packed up for Christmas, and expected to be completely cleared out.

It's a reason why the new federal petition was launched on October 11.

More than 24,000 Canadians signed their support on Thursday. Hiebert is one of them and said it could be a game changer: giving everyone who needs it the chance to live well.

“I have celiac disease and have to follow a special diet. If I don't, I'll get sick. And guess what? “I'm going to put an additional burden on the health care system,” she said.

“Think of all the doctor visits you can save by eating gluten-free and sticking to that gluten-free diet. Not only will your stomach feel better, but your entire body will feel better because it's just getting the nutrients you need.

“Having safe food – that's the recipe for gluten-free or celiac disease.”

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Celiac Canada is pushing for Ottawa to get better tax credits as the cost of gluten-free groceries soars

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