Sign the e-Petition: Food Affordability, Tax Fairness, and Celiac Disease

Living gluten-free in Canada isn’t a choice – it’s a medical necessity for people with celiac disease. But eating safely comes with a much higher price tag.

Become a Celiac Advocate – Sign the House of Commons e-Petition

Celiac Canada is advocating for a flat refundable tax credit that would provide real, simple relief:

$1,000 per adult with celiac disease
$600 per child with celiac disease

This approach would:

Reduce the financial burden of a medically necessary diet
Be fairer and easier to access than the current system
Help families struggling with food costs

Clicking on the button below will redirect you to the House of Commons site where you can sign the e-petition (e-6853).

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We’re Feeling the Support!

In addition to the thousands of Canadians who have signed the petition so far, we’re getting support from within the healthcare community!

Read the letter of support from the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology.

We’re Advocating for You

Every day we hear from people who are struggling with food affordability and filing for the existing tax credit.

Read Andy’s Story

Signatures Collected 32,065 of 30,000

100%

Did You Know…

Gluten-free foods can cost 100-500% more than gluten foods.

One in six Canadians with celiac disease are food insecure.

Fifty per cent of homes with a child who has celiac disease are food insecure.

Imagine the impact that a simple-to-apply, refundable tax credit of $1,000 could make in helping to offset the high cost of managing celiac disease.

Please take a minute to sign the House of Commons e-petition and help us raise awareness about this pressing issue.

Our Goal

Why It’s Important

In 2024, more than 28,000 Canadians signed a petition asking the government to make a tax credit a reality. In 2025, we have a new government – and a new opportunity to influence change.

Our goal is to gather 30,000 signatures by the deadline of December 6, 2025 at 4 PM EST.

It demonstrates to the government that this is an issue that is important to Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
The government’s response will give us insight into future policy direction and signal whether they support our recommendation for change.
It’s a meaningful way to support the celiac community.

Why is gluten-free food so expensive?

Here are a few reasons gluten-free food can be more expensive:

Special ingredients: Gluten-free products often use alternative flours (rice, sorghum, quinoa, almond, etc.) that are more expensive to grow, mill, and source. These ingredients require extra binders, like xanthum gum, psyllium, and starches that also add cost.

Smaller production runs: Regular bread or pasta is made at massive scale; gluten-free products are made in much smaller batches, which drives up cost.

Dedicated facilities: To prevent cross-contamination, some manufacturers run entirely separate gluten-free facilities or lines—adding cost.

Importing products: Many gluten-free brands are imported, which adds transportation and customs costs.

Gluten-free food is 150-500% more expensive than its gluten-containing equivalent!

The Problem with Canada's Current Tax Credit

Canada does have a Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) for gluten-free food but:

It’s complicated: you must keep every receipt, track the difference between regular and gluten-free versions, and submit detailed records at tax time.
It excludes many people: not everyone can itemize their taxes (for example patients with low health or financial literacy), and many who need help the most can’t benefit
It’s unfair: families with multiple people with celiac disease face very high grocery bills, but little meaningful relief

Only 1 in 5 claim the existing tax credit because it's too complicated.

How We Are Supporting You

Celiac Canada’s Advocacy Working Group, Board of Directors and Staff are working every day to advocate for fair, affordable access to gluten-free food. Here’s a look at what we’ve done, and what we’re doing now:

2025 - Pushing Hard for Change

Election advocacy: we rallied our community to send over 5,000 personalized letters sent to party leaders
Community poll: 1,800 voices weighed in on affordability, healthcare & the tax system. Read the results here.
Tariff consultations: we submitted a letter to the Minister of Finance and reached out to suppliers to better understand which tariff codes are being impacted and advocate for exemptions
Food banks: we are updating and improving our resources across the country to ensure they are up-to-date and easy to use