SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - With a possible tax on junk food under discussion by the territorial government, Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger may be making enemies among a host of ghouls, goblins, and practitioners of black magic.

Angela Trailovic, 7, holds her candy close on Halloween as the payload of goodies next year is under threat by a junk food tax that would make handing out treats more expensive. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

Seven-year-old Angela Trailovic, sporting a black witch's hat and a bag full of hard-earned candy, obtained through a cold Halloween journey around Yellowknife, did not like the idea of more costly candy.

Her older sister, Sandrina Trailovic, was in disbelief.

"Are you serious?" asked Sandrina. "I would definitely not support that."

While Sandrina acknowledged that increasingly expensive candy may play a hand in preventing obesity and tooth decay, she seemed dismayed that something people enjoyed may wind up even more draining on the pocket book.

Nathan Wilson, a punk rocker and barista for better part of the year, was dressed to the nines on Halloween as a "dub-stepper" – a variant of the rave-music-dancing scene, complete with glow sticks and a shirt written on in neon colours.

"That's ridiculous. Isn't candy expensive enough?" asked Wilson.

The junk food tax exists only on a revenue options paper at present, and there is no mention of how much the tax would be. The spectre of a junk food tax is raised in, "Examining the mix: Options for changing the NWT tax system" -- a collection of government revenue options put together by the Department of Finance.

The tax is described as something that may help encourage healthy eating choices and may "reduce obesity and chronic disease while generating revenue."

Foods deemed unhealthy would be subject to the tax, while those considered healthy would escape a financial penalty.

In the following paragraph, though, it is mentioned that the costs to separate the tax from others and to collect it, may be expensive compared to the money it could generate.

One thing's for sure: If this tax is introduced, Miltenberger had better hand out a lot of candy next Halloween.