The following opinion editorial first appeared in Toronto Star on December 6, 2021. By Linda Silas Last month, Ottawa introduced Bill C-3 amending the Criminal Code to recognize violence against health workers as an aggravating factor during sentencing. The legislation would also criminalize intimidating or obstructing health-care workers or patients seeking care. Nurses’ unions welcome these new […]
Read MoreNovember 26, 2021 (OTTAWA, ON) – The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) welcomes the federal government’s announcement of new legislation intended to protect health care workers from violence at work. Nurses are applauding measures outlined today aimed at protecting health care workers, including criminalizing activities blocking access to health facilities and amending the Criminal Code to […]
Read MoreBelow is the letter Linda Silas, CFNU President, sent today to Prime Minister Trudeau. Dear Prime Minister: I write on behalf of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) to urge your government to take serious and immediate steps to address the rampant workplace violence facing health care workers across the country. Assaults against nurses […]
Read MoreEarlier today, a New Brunswick judge handed down a sentence in the case of Randy Van Horlick, the Acadieville man who who brutally assaulted an RN and LPN in March 2019. Van Horlick will serve six months incarceration and two years of probation. The case was a shocking and grim reminder of the violence that […]
Read MoreAfter failing to adequately protect health care workers from violence, one Ontario hospital has received a slap on the wrist: a fine of $80,000. The Ontario Court of Justice imposed the fine, late last week, following a guilty plea by Southlake Hospital in Newmarket, Ontario. The case stemmed from a January 2019 incident that left […]
Read MoreMEDIA RELEASE Nurses to premiers: Violence in health care demands action July 11, 2019 (SASKATOON, SK) – A panel of experts on the mounting crisis of violence against health care workers presented to Canada’s provincial and territorial premiers this morning at an event coinciding with the Council of the Federation summit in Saskatoon. Co-sponsored by […]
Read MoreThis opinion editorial was originally published in the Regina Leader-Post and Saskatoon StarPhoenix on July 10, 2019. Opinion: Premiers must act to end rampant violence in health care Tracy Zambory and Linda Silas Canada’s provincial and territorial premiers are assembling in Saskatoon this week for their annual summit, and nurses unions from across the country […]
Read MoreOn June 21, 2019, Canada’s unions joined workers everywhere in celebrating the historic adoption of a new International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention and Recommendation addressing violence and harassment in the world of work. After over a year of negotiations with governments, employers, and workers, the Centenary International Labour Conference adopted the new framework at its convention in Geneva. […]
Read MoreMEDIA ADVISORY Nurses will urge premiers at summit to end health care violence July 9, 2019 (SASKATOON, SK) – Nurses union leaders from across the country will call on Canada’s provincial and territorial premiers to take action to end the pervasive and worsening workplace violence crisis affecting health care workers. Last month, Canada’s parliamentary health committee […]
Read MoreMEDIA RELEASE Nurses praise parliamentary report on violence in health care June 20, 2019 (OTTAWA, ON) – Canada’s nurses are eager for meaningful action following the first parliamentary study into violence against health care workers. A report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, released yesterday afternoon, makes a number of recommendations championed by […]
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