Dix says ‘definitively’ that BC will not follow Quebec’s lead on taxing the unvaccinated

British Columbia will not be following in the footsteps of Quebec when it comes to implementing a health tax on unvaccinated residents without a medical exemption, Health Minister Adrian Dix said today.

Dix addressed the question during an afternoon briefing on COVID-19 alongside Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer, just hours after Quebec Premier François Legault announced the tax.

“I can say definitively, we will not be proceeding with a similar measure in BC, but we will be continuing our strong efforts to ensure that everyone gets vaccinated,” said Dix.

Henry echoed that statement and said that health officials in BC have taken the measures they feel are important to address what is being seen in the province right now.

“I don’t foresee making it mandatory for vaccinations for everybody in the province,” the PHO noted.

“I think we have a very strong support for vaccination and it is really important in specific settings and we’ve mandated them in some.”

Dix expanded on that, citing vaccine requirements that are in place for tens of thousands of people working in the healthcare system, long-term care or public service.

“Other jurisdictions, including other jurisdictions in eastern Canada, have chosen not to take that step,” he explained.

“We felt that step was important to protect our healthcare system and the arrival of the Omicron variant of concern has only strengthened not just our resolve, but the reasons why that decision was taken are more important now than ever.”

While the health minister was adamant that BC will not be taking the same action as Quebec, he said that the Province will continue all efforts to ensure that everyone who wants to be vaccinated has that opportunity.

Dix also used the opportunity to speak highly of BC’s ongoing vaccination program, which he claimed is “one of the most successful vaccination programs in the world at every level.”

He noted that 93% of adults in BC have their first dose, 90% have their second and 29% already have a booster, while Henry added that BC has “a very strong support for vaccination.”

Earlier today, Quebec Premier François Legault said that more details on Quebec’s tax on unvaccinated residents would come in the coming weeks, but added that it will be “significant” enough to make people want to get their shot.

Officials say Quebec’s health−care system is under enormous stress from the rapidly rising number of COVID−19 patients, and the latest restrictions — including a 10 pm to 5 am curfew — are some of the strictest in the country.

Legault said that around only 10% of adults in Quebec are unvaccinated, but they represent about 50% of intensive care patients.