B.C. not ruling out vaccine incentives, premier says after Manitoba announces lottery
Premier John Horgan doesn't think incentives are necessary to get more British Columbians vaccinated against COVID-19 – but he's not ruling them out, either.
Horgan was asked about the possibility of enticing fence-sitters on Wednesday, hours after Manitoba announced a lottery offering nearly $2 million in cash prizes and scholarships to those who roll up their sleeves and get their shots.
"I don't want to jinx it, but I do believe that we can get to our objectives without incentives," Horgan said. "But if it comes to that, we're not going to rule that out, not at all."
Manitoba is holding two draws, each with seven $100,000 prizes, as well as 10 scholarships of $25,000 that will be awarded to people between the ages of 12 and 17.
Everyone in the province who has received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine before Aug. 2 will be entered into the first draw, and those who have received both doses by Sept. 6 will be entered into the second.
When it comes to vaccination rates, Manitoba isn't far behind B.C. The prairie province has administered at least one dose to 69.7 per cent of eligible residents, compared to 72.4 per cent in British Columbia.
It's unclear how many more people B.C. will be able to vaccinate before hitting a wall – there are COVID-19 deniers, anti-vaxxers and others who are vehemently opposed to getting a shot – but Horgan said officials are "confident' the province can reach as high as 85 or 90 per cent buy-in.
Already, the province has started shifting its focus to second doses. Of the 384,472 shots administered over the last week, 202,353 have been first doses. That's an average of 28,907 per day, down from an average of 54,033 first doses per day in the previous week.
Horgan said the province's biggest hurdle is currently vaccine availability.
"We need more vaccine, and I've made that clear to the prime minister," the premier said. "These vaccines are in high demand and we don't produce them domestically, so we have a challenge there procuring supply."
Manitoba has also announced a vaccine passport that will be given to fully vaccinated residents two weeks after their second dose, and exempt them from some self-isolation requirements.
The topic of vaccine passports has been raised numerous times in B.C. over recent months, and Horgan said Wednesday that local officials still "haven't landed on that issue."
"We're not enthusiastic about it, quite frankly. This is health information at the end of the day," he said.
With files from CTV News Winnipeg's Kayla Rosen
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
Police clear intersection of pro-Palestinian protesters on UBC campus
Police have moved on pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver, with video on social media showing lines of officers advancing on demonstrators rallying at a main intersection.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.
Infant dies in ATV crash, N.S. RCMP says alcohol may be a factor
An infant has died and three others, including another child, were taken to hospital following an ATV crash in Forties, N.S., on Monday.
'Scandals and secrets': On board the world's most exclusive private residential ship
It’s a floating city exclusively home to the 1 per cent, a playground for multimillionaires and billionaires that circumnavigates the world's oceans.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
New Orleans mystery: Human skull padlocked to a dumbbell is pulled out of water by a fisherman
New Orleans mystery: Human skull padlocked to a dumbbell is pulled out of water by a fisherman
Indian capital swelters as temperature hits all-time high of 52.9 C
Delhi recorded an all-time high temperature of 52.9 C (127.22 F) on Wednesday as extreme heat conditions gripped the north and western parts of India.