Conservative MPs speak up against Legault's unvaxxed tax: 'Legally and ethically wrong'

Conservative members of parliament are speaking out against Premier Francois Legault's tax against unvaccinated Quebec residents.

Major MPs have spoken up following Legault's announcement, that would see a "healthcare contribution" be put into place that is paid only by individuals without medical exemption for a vaccine that have yet to receive their jabs.

"Any tax targeting unvaccinated people is discriminatory and wrong," wrote veteran MP and Shadow Finance Minister Pierre Poilievre.

"A tax on the unvaxxed would be legally and ethically wrong. Full stop," wrote rising star MP Melissa Lantsman on Twitter.

On Tuesday, Francois Legault said he would implement a “substantial” tax for those not getting a COVID vaccine. Legault said that a fine of $50 or $100 would not be enough.

Despite having a double vaccination rate of 78.3 percent, Quebec has implemented some of the strictest lockdown measures in North America.

Legault did not say when the tax would be put into place, or how much the cost would be. He did say that more detail would be revealed, and details would be debated in Quebec's national assembly.

"The scapegoating of the 'unvaccinated' gets worse by the day," wrote Michael Cooper. "This tax will do nothing to keep anyone safe. Maybe instead Legault should admit that his extreme measures of lockdowns and curfews have been a complete failure."

The MPs are joined in opposition to the proposal by Canada's Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF). On Thursday, the JCCF announced that it would launch legal action against the provincial government of Quebec.

"The proposed Quebec 'health tax' is an egregious violation of the Charter rights of Quebecers and an affront to equality which Canada was, in times past, known for," states Justice Centre President, John Carpay.

"This is a blatant attack on a minority of society. Historically, persecution of a minority through taxation has paved the way for further and worse measures. We will fight this discriminatory and unscientific tax in court and defend the right to bodily autonomy of Quebecers and all Canadians. This injustice has no place in Canada," adds Mr. Carpay.

"The announcement of a tax on those who decline the COVID injections, like the 'vaccine passport,' is discrimination and wrong. Vaccines do not stop people from contracting or spreading COVID, so there is no medical or scientific justification for the financial persecution and discrimination against vaccine-free citizens," Carpay concluded in a statement.