Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says “incentives and strong measures” have worked in the fight against COVID-19, in a nod to Quebec’s proposed tax on unvaccinated residents.

“As we’ve said, incentives and strong measures, whether it’s vaccine passports, whether it’s requirements for travellers, whether it’s the requirement for public servants to be fully vaccinated, we have taken very strong measures in the past and they have worked in terms of keeping Canadians safe,” he said.

“We will continue to look and work with the provinces and look at measures put forward.”

Quebec announced on Tuesday that it will introduce a financial penalty in the coming weeks for those refusing to get the jab as the health-care system there continues to feel the strain of mounting COVID-19 cases.

Premier François Legault said $50 or $100 wouldn’t be “significant” enough for him.

Trudeau said the province assured the federal government that the key principle of the Canada Health Act – that everyone has equal access to health care without financial or other barriers – would be respected.

The federal government announced in August it would require vaccination in the federal workforce and the federally regulated transportation sector.