Quebec Premier François Legault said Tuesday the province would be demanding a significant "health contribution" from Quebecers who refuse to get their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks.
Summary
- Quebec Premier François Legault said Tuesday the province would be imposing a health tax on Quebecers who refuse to get their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks.
- “We’re looking for a health contribution for adults who refuse to be vaccinated for non-medical reasons,” Legault said at a news conference, in which he also announced an interim public health director to replace Dr. Horacio Arruda.
- Arruda handed in his resignation letter Monday evening, pointing to public criticism of recent health measures.
- WATCH | ‘Health contribution’ payment coming for unvaccinated Quebecers: Legault proposes tax on unvaccinated as public health director resigns Duration 1:59 A day after the resignation of Quebec’s public health director, Dr. Horacio Arruda, Premier Francois Legault proposed a new tax on people not vaccinated against COVID-19, though he didn’t announce a timeline or amount of the tax.
- Roughly 10 per cent of eligible Quebecers remain unvaccinated, but health officials say they take up about 50 per cent of COVID-19 beds in hospitals.