The Legault government wants to charge dearly for non-vaccinated people who clog the health network on the brink of collapse by imposing a “significant” tax on them.
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The Prime Minister is fed up with unvaccinated adults. He no longer wants all Quebecers to pay for their bad choices.
“It is not true that 10% of the population will harm the other 90% by clogging our hospitals,” François Legault said at a press conference on Tuesday.
A health contribution is thus envisaged for Quebecers who refuse to be vaccinated without having a good medical reason.
“We think we are there,” said Mr. Legault. “All the adults who will not agree to fetch at least a first dose in the coming weeks will have to pay a bill because there are consequences on our health network. “
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
The new national director of public health, Luc Boileau.
Antivaccines account for half of hospitalizations in intensive care. They are also mainly responsible for the massive load shedding that afflicts the health network.
“It’s very shocking, because it puts a really too big burden on our network […] and a significant financial burden, ”railed the Prime Minister.
The government also wants to impose a “significant” amount on COVID-19 spoilers. Without quantifying the contribution, François Legault has already announced that it will exceed $ 100.
- Listen to the meeting of political analysts Elsie Lefebvre and Marc-André Leclerc:
Several questions remain unanswered on the application of this measure, which must be analyzed by the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard (see box).
“Everything will be revealed as soon as the terms have been chosen,” said press secretary Fanny Beaudry-Campeau.
Quebec is also working on the legal part of this policy, said Mr. Legault.
The latter raised the possibility that the contribution be required during the tax return, as is the case for drug insurance.
The “Vaccimpôt”
“They tried everything. At a certain point, it takes stronger measures, “said retired economist and ex-minister Daniel Paillé, who had proposed in our pages the idea of” vaccine tax “.
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
Public health expert Roxane Borgès Da Silva doubts the effectiveness of such a measure. Rather, it advocates limiting access to non-essential services.
“Unvaccinated people are generally less educated and less fortunate people. A tax like this will increase their financial insecurity which has negative effects, ”said the professor.
- Listen to Mario Dumont’s interview with Liberal health spokesperson Monsef Derraji on QUB Radio:
For the economist Luc Godbout of the University of Sherbrooke, a health contribution is preferable to the user fee which would impose a cost for the consultation.
“What must be safeguarded at all costs is the fundamental principle of being treated without regard to one’s ability to pay and without regard to one’s vaccination status,” considers Mr. Godbout.
A downside on hospitalizations
The Prime Minister also put a caveat on hospitalizations related to COVID-19: about half of people who test positive have in fact been hospitalized for other reasons.
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
“When you take that into account, the situation in Quebec is no different from what we see elsewhere,” pleaded Mr. Legault.
– With the collaboration of Marc-André Gagnon and Jean-Michel Genois Gagnon
Questions to be clarified
- How will the government have access to citizens’ medical records for verification?
- Is this legal or could the measure be challenged in court?
- Will Revenu Québec be responsible for collecting the tax?
- How much will the unvaccinated pay?
- When will this measure come into effect?
After Dr Arruda, here is Dr Boileau
Prime Minister Legault briefly paid tribute to the resigned public health director, Dr Horacio Arruda, before confirming the appointment of a new acting captain on board the ship to cross the 5th wave of the pandemic.
“For 22 months, Dr. Arruda gave everything to protect Quebecers from an unknown virus,” said François Legault. Living this kind of drama 7 days a week brings you closer. It touches me, because Dr Arruda is a very endearing person. ”
After a break, Dr Arruda will always have a place with the public health team, the prime minister said. Mr. Legault, who says he understands the advantages of having a new person in charge, has decided to appoint Dr. Luc Boileau on an interim basis.
“Me, I have confidence in the independence and in the competence of Dr. Boileau”, pleaded Mr. Legault.
The oppositions and several experts are calling for structural changes, in order to ensure the separation of public health and politics. Québec solidaire, for example, is demanding an appointment supported by two-thirds of the National Assembly.
Two institutes with distinct roles
Before becoming interim national public health director, Dr Luc Boileau was CEO of the INSPQ, then of INESSS. Their roles are sometimes confused.
- The National Institute of Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) aims to ensure the best use of technologies, drugs and other interventions in the health field.
- The mission of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) is to improve the state of health and well-being of the population.
Just the hour between now and tomorrow for the return to class
The acting national director of public health, Dr Luc Boileau, will give his opinion for the return to class by tomorrow, he promised.
Parents who wanted to quickly get the facts straight will have to wait while the new captain analyzes the file.
For the moment, the return to school in person is still envisaged next Monday. However, things could still change due to the epidemiological situation.
“I was appointed this morning [hier] and I have not yet had the opportunity to take stock of the whole current situation. I recognize that there is a great rush, ”said Dr. Boileau, specifying that the decision will be made by tomorrow.