Quebec Government Aborts Tax on the Unvaccinated to Avoid Division

Quebec Premier Francois Legault, centre, speaks during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic, Feb. 1, 2022, at the legislature in Quebec City. Legault is flanked by Luc Boileau, Quebec interim director of National Public Health, left, and Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube. Francois Legault says he is abandoning his threat to tax the unvaccinated. (The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot)

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said on Feb. 1 that the province will abandon its plan to tax the unvaccinated population, a policy he says has divided Quebecers.

“My role is to try to bring Quebeckers together to stay united as a people. This is why we won’t go ahead with the health contribution. I understand that this divides Quebeckers and right now we need to build bridges to listen to each other. Quebeckers must remain united,” Legault said in a press conference in Quebec City.

On Jan. 11, Legault had announced the plan to levy an extra “health contribution” on the unvaccinated, citing “fairness” for those who have been vaccinated. He didn’t disclose at the time how much the financial penalties would be, but said it would be “significant.”

When asked during the press conference whether reversal of the health tax plan stemmed from a fear of “losing control” of the populace amid the truckers’ protest in Ottawa and a recent poll showing 59 percent of Quebeckers want pandemic restrictions to end, Legault denied this was the case.

“Solidarity is part of our values in Quebec and I want to protect that,” Legault said. “I don’t like to see the Quebeckers divided like we’re seeing since about a week [ago].”

The premier also announced some relaxation of pandemic restrictions on Feb. 1, citing the need to balance “our mental health” and “our social cohesion.” On Feb. 14, sports and artistic activities will be allowed to reopen for adults in groups of up to 25 people. Gyms and spas will also reopen at 50 percent capacity.

When asked during the press conference about the criteria for deciding which businesses or sectors are allowed to reopen, Dr. Luc Boileau, Quebec’s interim director of National Public Health, said the measures that have been eased so far are for those who are able to keep lower levels of social contacts, which is why settings like bars that have a higher risk of contagion are not yet allowed to reopen.

Legault said that the vaccination rate is the most important indicator for further reopening. He said about 60 percent of adult Quebecers have received 3 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, but he called for a further increase of that ratio.

On Feb. 1, COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Quebec dropped by 36 from the day before, to 2,852, with 207 new admissions and 243 patients discharged. The number of people in intensive care is 218, a decrease by five from the previous day. There were also 63 new deaths linked to the pandemic.