Brownstein: There’s nothing like a vax tax to hit a nerve

From politicians to doctors to comedians, many people have expressed disdain or confusion about Quebec’s plan to impose a financial penalty on those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19.

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That didn’t take long: vax tax rollback.

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It came almost on the heels of Prime Minister François Legault’s announcement on Tuesday about imposing a “significant” financial penalty on the unvaccinated who do not have medical exemptions. And it came from almost everywhere.

The political minds of the opposition parties in the National Assembly quickly jumped. Québec solidaire denounced it as a “radical measure” that would harm the vulnerable. Liberal leader Dominique Anglade accused Legault of “governing by polls, not science.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comments on Wednesday were more measured, taking a predictably cautious centrist approach designed not to alienate the majority. While acknowledging that “various levels of government are right to look at different ways to incentivize people to get vaccinated,” Trudeau said he wanted to make sure Quebec’s plan “respects the principles of the Canada Health Act. … to protect, promote, and restore physical health.” and mental well-being of Canadian residents and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers.

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Some in the medical community were much less restricted. Veteran ER doctor Mitch Shulman criticized the tax as “political theater.”

Legal minds weighed the constitutionality of such a measure.

Human rights lawyer Julius Gray was unequivocal in stating that the tax would violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“It’s a tough decision because it’s a violation, but they clearly passed the first two parts of the three-element test, which is reasonable cause and a causal connection,” he told the Montreal Gazette.

So could the third part pass, as the least intrusive action that could be taken?

“That is a great debate in court. It could go either way,” Gray said. “It depends on the mood at the time you appear in court. If the virus had a higher fatality rate then there would be no doubt that it would happen. And if it did not have any mortality, there is no doubt that it would be discarded.”

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The Canadian Civil Liberties Association issued this statement: “Premier Legault is taking the unprecedented step of taxing Quebecers based on their personal medical choices. He proposes a direct sanction for not being vaccinated: forcing people to undergo medical treatment. Our charter recognizes individual autonomy over our bodies and medical decisions.”

And then there is the spate of practical meat and potato issues raised by Montreal Gazette readers via emails and tweets. Such as: What sum would be significant? How would this tax be collected? How long would it take to track down the unvaccinated? How often would the tax be collected? Would those with lower incomes be hit with the same significant tax as those in higher brackets? Would one prick be enough to scare off tax collectors, or would people be forced to get three?

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Good question. We await responses from the Prime Minister.

Some also wanted to know why those who contract alcohol and smoking-related illnesses and take up hospital space don’t receive similar penalties. The same with bad drivers who cause accidents.

But don’t bother trying to respond by explaining that alcoholism and smoking are not as contagious or transmissible as the coronavirus. Or that while alcoholism and secondhand smoke can take a terrible toll on families, drinkers and smokers actually pay substantial taxes on their favorite vices. Or that bad drivers pay more for licenses and registrations and receive heavy fines (although often not high enough) for their role in accidents.

“We are on a very slippery slope,” he emailed reader Brian Savitsky, concerned about where the line might be drawn on health-related taxes.

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“Instead of taxing the unvaccinated, why doesn’t the government give the vaccinated a tax break?” Harvey Smith asked in a tweet. “A percentage that would make anti-vaccines think twice.”

And of course, satirists have already had a field day thanks to this tax measure.

It didn’t take long for the always cranky, always acidic, always hysterical Martin, actor Matthew Giuffrida’s alter ego, to respond in his latest video: “This tax makes less sense than a Pablo Picasso painting. . “

Martin wants to know where this will all end: “We’re going to have to tax all the people who eat unhealthily. … Basically, we will have to tax everyone other than Jesus Christ. What are we going to do with all this tax money anyway?

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Like others, Martin fears that the taxes that are collected will not go where they should. For example, buying more hospital equipment and ventilators, or providing more health care staff. Or better yet, paying more equitable salaries to existing staff. “They will probably give it to the OQLF to make sure the Italian bakery signs are in bon passé composé.”

He concludes by lamenting that Quebec is alone on the issue of vax taxes and curfews, but promises that he will not give up. Not yet, anyway.

Good news. We could really use lightness more than ever.

[email protected]

twitter.com/billbrownstein

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Reference-montrealgazette.com

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