UNVACCINATED QUEBECERS WILL HAVE TO PAY HEALTH TAX.... QUEBEC PREMIER LEGAULT SAYS.

By Chandrayee Roy Choudhury, Canada

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. 

Legault did not say when the payment would take effect or how much it would cost, but he did say he wanted it to be significant enough to act as an incentive to get vaccinated — more than $50 or $100, he added. Legault said details would be revealed "in the coming weeks."

He said the contribution could be included in people's provincial tax filings, but he did not say whether it would be in those for 2021, which are to be filed by April 30, 2022.

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.

Legault said his government was also looking at further expanding the use of the province's vaccination passport to businesses, such as hairdressers and other personal care services, but that he wanted to "go further" than that with the tax.