Quebec , the second - most populous province of Canada , has harbinger a new quantity aim at quelling the spread COVID-19 : a wellness tax on the unvaccinated .

Provincial Premier Francois Legaultsaidin a intelligence conference on Tuesday that Quebecers who decline to get immunise without a valid medical justification “ will have a bill to pay ” – a move which he line as “ a question of equity . ”

“ There are consequences on our wellness - care internet and it ’s not up to all Quebecers to pay for this , ” the premier said .

“ Right now , these hoi polloi , they put a very significant effect on our wellness - care mesh . And I retrieve it ’s normal that the majority of the population is asking that there be a consequence . ”

While the accurate details have yet to be decided , Legault say that a tax of CA$50 or CA$100 ( $ 40-$80 US ) would “ not [ be ] meaning ” enough in his opinion . Residents with a aesculapian exemption would not present the tax , but otherwise it would apply to all adults in the state who go to get their first dose of the vaccine within “ the next few weeks , ” the premier say .

The announcement has already proven controversial , with Prime Minister Justin TrudeausayingWednesday that Ottawa was watching the development “ with interest . ”

Not only would such a tax be “ one of the strictest COVID-19 health measures in Canada , ” perlocal sensitive , but expert have also raise concern that it could infract a key rule in Canadian jurisprudence : the idea that everyone should have equal access code to healthcare , without facing fiscal ( or any other ) obstacles .

“ I ’ve not seen anything like this in Canada before , ” Danyaal Raza , a doctor with Unity Health in Toronto and former chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare , toldReuters . “ I ’m disturbed about the case law it would place . ”

Others doubt that the plan will mould as intended . Speaking toCTV Newson Wednesday , bioethics professor Vardit Ravitsky said she was concerned that the tax would backfire and increase inequalities already point by the pandemic .

“ From an ethical linear perspective , we ’re trying to select public health interventions that are the most just and just possible , ” she said . “ This … does not respect this principle . ”

“ I think it would be more equitable to increase the pressure to vaccinum passports than to point again individual ’s pockets , ” she added . “ $ 100 , $ 500 may have in mind almost nothing for some family and may be an unbelievable load for other kinfolk . ”

Nevertheless , as Canada faces the rapid spread of the Omicron variant , Quebec ’s wellness system is protrude to feel the melodic line – and the province has already had to takedrastic measuresto judge to deal with the surge .

While only aroundone in tenQuebecers are now unvaccinated , they make up nearly one-half of those in intensive care units , accordingto provincial information .

“ We ’ve gotten to a period where it ’s become very hard to get that final sort of 10 or 15 percent of hoi polloi across the finish line , ” say Canadian Medical Association President of the United States Dr Katharine Smart in an interview with CTV News .

In that respect , at least , the architectural plan may already be a achiever : more than 7,000Quebecers show to get their first dot of the vaccine after the architectural plan for an anti - vax tax was announced on Tuesday .

“ Our highest in several days , ” Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubétweetedafter the form were announced . “ This is supporting . ”