In his opening speech to the National Assembly on October 19, Premier François Legault announced that his government plans to end Quebec’s health emergency following the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11.
The premier plans to meet this objective “at the beginning of 2022” — as long as there are no “surprises with the pandemic.”
2/2 Je vous annonce qu’on va lever cette urgence sanitaire après la vaccination des enfants de 5 à 11 ans. On n’est jamais à l’abri des surprises avec la pandémie, mais si tout va bien, cette vaccination devrait être terminée au début de 2022.
— François Legault (@francoislegault) October 19, 2021
The Quebec government first declared a health emergency in March 2020.
The emergency status gives the government broad power to take action to address a public health threat under section 123 of the Loi sur la santé publique. These powers include widespread vaccination campaigns, closing public spaces, closing off parts of the province and discretionary spending.
