Canadian province
Fear of social division: Quebec rejects tax for the unvaccinated again
Vaccination readiness in Quebec is high – but there was resistance to a tax for the unvaccinated
© Graham Hughes / Picture Alliance
The Prime Minister of Quebec wanted to introduce a “health contribution” for the unvaccinated. Now he is withdrawing the proposal – the risk of social division is too great.
In order to increase the vaccination rate and strengthen the health system, the Canadian province of Québec had planned an extra tax for unvaccinated citizens. Prime Minister François Legault brought the idea into play in January: Anyone who does not get vaccinated for “non-medical reasons” should pay an annual “health contribution”. Legault did not provide any information about the exact amount, but indicated that the contribution should be “more than $50 or $100”.
The government has since backed away from such plans. Legault announced at a press conference that the tax on the unvaccinated will not come, even if his administration already has a draft law in the drawer. The prime minister justified his reversal with a growing division in society: “I have to protect the health of Quebecers, but I also have to keep the peace in society.”
Québec: 90 percent of the population simply vaccinated
Legault has noted, as he said, a “growing dissatisfaction” among the population: “I understand that this issue divides Quebecers and at this point we need to build bridges. My role is to bring Quebecers together.” Protests against the plans were announced for Thursday. The decision has nothing to do with that, Legault emphasized, but he takes into account people’s anger. Balancing physical and mental health is a difficult task.
The proposal has already had an effect, said Legault: Since the tax for the unvaccinated has been discussed, the number of first vaccinations in the province has increased again. More than 8.5 million people live in Quebec. 90 percent of Québec residents over the age of five have received at least one dose of vaccine against Covid-19 – according to the prime minister, this is one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.
Sources: CBC / Covid-19 Tracker Canada