Health workers say bill that further protects them from harassment is needed: Lametti
Global News
The bill fulfils a Liberal election promise to bring in a new law to tackle the rising harassment of health care workers that has emerged during the pandemic.
Justice Minister David Lametti said a new law to single out health care workers for special protection from intimidation and threats at work is a response to a need identified by the workers themselves.
But at a Senate committee reviewing Bill C-3 Friday, senators peppered Lametti with questions about why the law is needed given the Criminal Code already addresses harassment, intimidation and threats.
The bill has two parts: one that introduces paid sick leave for federally regulated workers, and another that amends the Criminal Code with two new offences for intimidating or obstructing health care workers and patients from giving or receiving health care services.
The legislation also adds that any offence against a health care worker providing services, or a patient seeking services, should be used as an aggravating factor during sentencing.
The bill fulfils a Liberal election promise to bring in a new law to tackle the rising harassment of health care workers that has emerged during the pandemic. The idea arose after anti-vaccine and anti-lockdown advocates blocked workers and patients from entering or exiting hospitals, and in some circumstances prevented ambulances from reaching emergency rooms.
Sen. Vern White, a former Ottawa police chief, said it is already illegal to intimidate or threaten people. He said that’s why during the hospital protests in September Toronto police could warn that anybody blocking access to the hospitals would be arrested.
“So I’m just trying to get my head around really why we didn’t just look at the offences that were available and increase the penalties to 10 years,” he asked.
White later told The Canadian Press in an interview that he does not think the bill is needed.