Canada’s provincial and territorial premiers usually gather at an annual meeting, called the Council of the Federation, to discuss shared issues in their relations with the federal government. The CFNU hosts a policy event during these summits to highlight a pressing health care issue and present the latest research and analysis from leading experts. During the event, leadership of provincial nurses’ unions share the perspectives of frontline nurses with their premiers. Previous topics of discussion have included the effects of health care cutbacks, the need for a pharmacare program, and improving access to mental health services.
At the most recent Council of Federation in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, premiers and representatives from 11 provinces and territories joined nurses from across the country for a policy event held on July 11, 2019. Host Premier, the Hon. Scott Moe, welcomed his provincial and territorial counterparts to the event, Violence in Health Care: Causes & Solutions.
Premiers heard a powerful message from expert speakers and nurse leaders about the severity of violence in health care. The CFNU’s media communiqué emphasized the need for action to end violence.
Nurses unions leaders with guest speakers at CFNU policy breakfast
CFNU President Linda Silas appealed to premiers of all political stripes to tackle head-on the violence epidemic in health care with evidence-based policies to improve staffing levels and security. Silas also called on federal leadership to tighten criminal code provisions to deter health care employers from neglecting the safety of their staff and to hold perpetrators accountable. The message was clear: violence is not part of the job.
The event featured the following guest speakers: