Province of Canada plans to levy “tax” on unvaccinated against Covid-19

Quebec, Canada’s second most populous province, plans to force adults who refuse to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to pay a “health contribution”. The measure will likely stimulate a debate on individual rights and social responsibility.

Provincial Prime Minister Francois Legault told reporters on Tuesday that the proposal, the details of which are still being finalized, would not apply to those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

The unvaccinated overwhelm others and the province’s Ministry of Finance is determining a “significant” amount that this group would be required to pay, Legault said.

Governments around the world are imposing movement restrictions on those who refuse to be vaccinated against Covid-19, but a comprehensive tax on all unvaccinated adults could be a rare and controversial measure.

While such a tax may be justified in the context of a health emergency, said Carolyn Ells, professor of medicine and health sciences at McGill University, whether it survives a court challenge depends on the details.

But Ells expressed surprise that the government is taking such a “dramatic” step now, when other options remain, such as expanding the requirement for proof of vaccinations.

Provinces across Canada are facing an exponential rise in Covid-19 cases that has forced tens of thousands of people into isolation and overwhelmed the healthcare industry.

Quebec has been one of the hardest hit, regularly recording the highest daily coronavirus case count of any province and having thousands of healthcare workers out of their jobs.

“The vaccine is the key to fighting the virus. That’s why we’re looking for a health contribution to adults who refuse to be vaccinated for non-medical reasons,” Legault said.

The prime minister said that although the province has about 10% of unvaccinated people, they represent 50% of people in Intensive Care Units.

Legault and his party face a provincial election in October.

On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government had guaranteed enough doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for all eligible Canadians to receive the booster dose.