In a press conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said that everyone is paying attention at the moment to the proposal made by Quebec, but there are still a lot of details that you need to know
.
For Justin Trudeau, what the government of François Legault is proposing must be aligned with the principles, fundamental rights and values of Canada.
« We want to ensure that the principles of the Canada Health Act are respected. »
The Canada Health Act stipulates that the provincial health insurance plan must ensure 100% of the insured’s right to health care. Universality is also a condition set by this law for the transfer of federal funds to the provinces in the area of health.
The Quebec government announced on Tuesday its intention to impose a health contribution to all adults in Quebec who refuse to be vaccinated
, as Prime Minister François Legault put it.
« There is no opposition from the government to taking strong measures, but we will always seek to ensure that these measures are effective. […]. »
Different jurisdictions and governments are right to look at how we can get people to get vaccinated
, continued Mr. Trudeau.
Canada imposed measures very hard
to people who choose not to be vaccinated, Trudeau said. The fact, for example, not being able to travel by plane and train and risk losing “your job” if you work for the public service [fédérale]
.
In addition to the obligations imposed by the federal government, the provinces and territories have also set vaccine obligations, recalled the federal Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos. And all these actions have borne fruit:% “,” text “:” the vaccination rate has been increased from about 6 to 10% “}}”>the vaccination rate was increased by approximately 6-10%, he said.
This is proof that these measures have prompted Canadians to The good choice
and get vaccinated, adds Minister Duclos.
Compulsory vaccination
Last Friday, Mr. Duclos went so far as to raise the possibility, for the provinces, of making compulsory vaccination. A possibility that his Quebec counterpart did not rule out last December: if we have to go there, we’ll go there
, had advanced Christian Dubé.
In New Brunswick, Premier Blaine Higgs do not dismiss it either, but he intends to discuss it beforehand.
On Wednesday, Jean-Yves Duclos clarified that the keyword surrounding the measures taken to counter COVID-19 was kindness
.
It is to protect people, for the sake of benevolence, he explained. No one wants someone to end up in intensive care.
I don’t think anyone thinks or says that force will be used, physically speaking, to vaccinate people in Canada.
, specified Mr. Duclos, who believes that the discussion on these issues will continue.
Slippery ground
The reactions fuse in the country the day after François Legault’s announcement on a possible financial penalty for the unvaccinated.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says this is a violation of this great Canadian principle of universal access to health care
.
Our approach is different and we will not go this route
, said Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario. Same story in Saskatchewan: we have no intention of imposing a tax on the unvaccinated
, this Scott Moe.
In British Columbia, the Minister of Health, Adrian Dix, says that we will instead continue the vaccination campaign which knows an exceptional success
.
For the mayor of Toronto, John Tory, the government of Quebec is on a slippery slope. What are we going to do with people who smoke, people who are drug addicts and who end up in the health care system?
he asks.
It’s an avenue better not to take
, concludes John Tory.
Trudeau calls on young people
Nationally, 45% of children aged 5 to 11 have received at least one dose of the vaccine. By comparison, almost twice as many young people between the ages of 12 and 17 – or 87% – have been vaccinated to date.
For Prime Minister Trudeau, childhood immunizations must accelerate. To this end, he spoke directly to young people on Wednesday. Please ask your parents to get you vaccinated, which will protect you, your parents, your grandparents, vulnerable people …
Mr. Trudeau points out that it is not easy
for young people, who have had to make many sacrifices during this pandemic. In some parts of the country, they will have to return to class soon and it is important that they be vaccinated, he insists.
Also on Tuesday, Ottawa said that vaccine stocks were sufficient to provide a possible fourth dose of vaccine to all Canadians, if necessary.