Quebec announced Tuesday the abandonment of the “health contribution”, this tax for the non-vaccinated presented a few weeks ago, arousing strong reactions in the French-speaking Canadian province. Worried about seeing his population divided, Quebec Prime Minister François Legault decided to backtrack on his bill at a time when, he says, “we see the discontent growing day by day”.
“To move Quebec forward in a calm social climate, I am announcing that the government is not going to table this bill on the health contribution,” he declared during a press conference.
This tax project presented on January 11 was intended as an “incentive” to convince the non-vaccinated to immunize themselves against Covid-19, but François Legault now believes that “this announcement has divided Quebecers”.
This is not the first time that Quebec has backed down on a health measure. The Legault government wanted in the fall to make vaccination compulsory for all health personnel, but had finally suspended this measure to avoid weakening a system already battered by a shortage of manpower.
Easing of health measures
Quebec also announced on Tuesday that sports and artistic activities (gyms, spas, etc.) for adults will be able to resume from February 14 for up to 25 people. After an unexpected closure on New Year’s Eve, restaurants were able to reopen on Monday and after-school sports activities in schools and universities were able to resume.
To date, nine out of ten Quebecers have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine, while 61% have received a third dose. “It’s not enough,” reacted the Prime Minister of Quebec, hoping that this vaccination rate will increase in the days and weeks to come.