Quebec is considering taxing residents who don’t get vaccinated.
Prime Minister François Legault dropped that bomb Tuesday during a press conference apparently organized to address the resignation a day before his top public health official, Dr. Horacio Arruda.
But after briefly thanking Arruda and appointing his replacement, Dr. Luc Boileau, the prime minister focused on the rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations in his province and the number of Quebecers still unvaccinated.
“I am announcing that we are currently working on a health care contribution that will be charged to all adults in Quebec who refuse to be vaccinated,” Legault said.
“All people who are not vaccinated for non-medical reasons will have to pay a contribution,” Legault said.
You compared the contribution to drug insurance coverage in Quebec, where if a person’s employer doesn’t cover drug insurance, the person pays a contribution when they pay their taxes.
Legault said he would work with his finance minister to figure out the logistics of such a contribution, but that it would be a “significant amount.”
“Fifty dollars or $ 100, to me, it’s not significant,” Legault said. “But we have not yet fixed the amount.”
Saying that the vaccine is the key to fighting the virus, Legault criticized those in his province who remain unvaccinated 22 months after the pandemic, saying they place a significant burden on medical personnel and a financial burden for most of the population. Quebecers.
“It is also a question of justice for the 90 percent of the population who have made some sacrifices. I think we owe them this kind of measure, “he said.
Legault said he would also be working on the legality of such a contribution.
Reference-www.thestar.com