The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms will issue a constitutional challenge against Quebec’s tax on the unvaccinated whenever it is enacted, says the organization’s president, John Carpay..On Tuesday, Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised a “substantial” levy would soon be issued for those who were not vaccinated for COVID-19. In recent weeks, Quebec has imposed evening curfews and strict limits on allowed numbers in indoor gatherings and even revoked vaccine passports for anyone who hadn’t been triple-jabbed. As of January 6, that also excluded them from liquor and pot stores..Carpay says the unvax tax only adds to the harsh measures and will increase the hardships of those without jobs for refusing the shot..“To basically punish people financially, directly is going a step further,” Carpay said in an interview with the Western Standard..“It’s already unconstitutional to coerce or pressure anybody into getting any medical treatment, so this takes it from bad to worse.”.Carpay says the Quebec proposal would violate Section 7 of the Charter which promises life, liberty, and the security of the person. He promises the Justice Centre will act when the tax is imposed..“You’ve already got indirect financial consequences for a lot of unvaccinated people when they’re forced into unemployment. But this is this is a direct financial penalty imposed on a minority and is a clear violation of the Charter’s right to bodily autonomy,” Carpay said..“We plan to challenge the policy in court if the current government moves ahead [because] we cannot challenge announcements of what the government is [only] planning to do.”.Legault announced the measure in a press conference Tuesday, one day after the resignation of the province’s chief medical doctor for the past 12 years, Dr. Horacio Arruda. Legault promised a “significant” levy, but was imprecise on the amount or the timeline for the measure..The “contribution,” as Legault calls it, won’t convince everyone. Marc Belec Lafrance, of Saint-Eustache, Quebec told CTV the tax would have “no impact on my decision… They’ve taken everything away from me. And they can continue. It wouldn’t change anything.”.If Legault follows some European countries, Lafrance will feel the pinch. In Greece, those over 60 years old have until January 15 to be vaccinated or face fines of 100 euros ($144). Vaccination will be mandatory for those 14 and up in Austria as of February 1. The unvaccinated there will be charged 3,600 euros ($5,147) every three months..Carpay, a former Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, was asked if Quebecers should protest the policy by withholding their taxes entirely. .“Well, the Justice Centre takes no position on a tax revolt. I might personally,” Carpay said with a laugh, “but the Justice Centre has no position.”.In recent comments, the federal health minister touted mandatory vaccination. Whether this or even more onerous measures are ahead, Carpay could only speculate..“We already have mandatory vaccination policies in place up to a point because you can get expelled from university or lose your job for exercising your right to bodily autonomy,” Carpay said..“Imposing a tax or a fee or a fine is taking it one step further. And I guess a potential step after that, if the government wanted to go still further — and then this would be an even more outrageous violation of Charter rights — is where they physically pin you down to the ground and forcibly inject you against your will.”.Despite recent events and their potential trajectory, Carpay said he has faith for the longer term..“Ultimately, truth vanquishes the lies and good triumphs over evil, but it’s a rough, rocky road between those two points,” he said..“Charter violations are with us to stay for as long as Canadians tolerate them.”.Lee Harding is a freelance contributor to the Western Standard living in Regina, Saskatchewan.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms will issue a constitutional challenge against Quebec’s tax on the unvaccinated whenever it is enacted, says the organization’s president, John Carpay..On Tuesday, Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised a “substantial” levy would soon be issued for those who were not vaccinated for COVID-19. In recent weeks, Quebec has imposed evening curfews and strict limits on allowed numbers in indoor gatherings and even revoked vaccine passports for anyone who hadn’t been triple-jabbed. As of January 6, that also excluded them from liquor and pot stores..Carpay says the unvax tax only adds to the harsh measures and will increase the hardships of those without jobs for refusing the shot..“To basically punish people financially, directly is going a step further,” Carpay said in an interview with the Western Standard..“It’s already unconstitutional to coerce or pressure anybody into getting any medical treatment, so this takes it from bad to worse.”.Carpay says the Quebec proposal would violate Section 7 of the Charter which promises life, liberty, and the security of the person. He promises the Justice Centre will act when the tax is imposed..“You’ve already got indirect financial consequences for a lot of unvaccinated people when they’re forced into unemployment. But this is this is a direct financial penalty imposed on a minority and is a clear violation of the Charter’s right to bodily autonomy,” Carpay said..“We plan to challenge the policy in court if the current government moves ahead [because] we cannot challenge announcements of what the government is [only] planning to do.”.Legault announced the measure in a press conference Tuesday, one day after the resignation of the province’s chief medical doctor for the past 12 years, Dr. Horacio Arruda. Legault promised a “significant” levy, but was imprecise on the amount or the timeline for the measure..The “contribution,” as Legault calls it, won’t convince everyone. Marc Belec Lafrance, of Saint-Eustache, Quebec told CTV the tax would have “no impact on my decision… They’ve taken everything away from me. And they can continue. It wouldn’t change anything.”.If Legault follows some European countries, Lafrance will feel the pinch. In Greece, those over 60 years old have until January 15 to be vaccinated or face fines of 100 euros ($144). Vaccination will be mandatory for those 14 and up in Austria as of February 1. The unvaccinated there will be charged 3,600 euros ($5,147) every three months..Carpay, a former Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, was asked if Quebecers should protest the policy by withholding their taxes entirely. .“Well, the Justice Centre takes no position on a tax revolt. I might personally,” Carpay said with a laugh, “but the Justice Centre has no position.”.In recent comments, the federal health minister touted mandatory vaccination. Whether this or even more onerous measures are ahead, Carpay could only speculate..“We already have mandatory vaccination policies in place up to a point because you can get expelled from university or lose your job for exercising your right to bodily autonomy,” Carpay said..“Imposing a tax or a fee or a fine is taking it one step further. And I guess a potential step after that, if the government wanted to go still further — and then this would be an even more outrageous violation of Charter rights — is where they physically pin you down to the ground and forcibly inject you against your will.”.Despite recent events and their potential trajectory, Carpay said he has faith for the longer term..“Ultimately, truth vanquishes the lies and good triumphs over evil, but it’s a rough, rocky road between those two points,” he said..“Charter violations are with us to stay for as long as Canadians tolerate them.”.Lee Harding is a freelance contributor to the Western Standard living in Regina, Saskatchewan.
