Moved second reading of Bill C-321, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against persons who provide health services and first responders).

Honourable senators, my colleague Senator Housakos was inadvertently called away, so I will be delivering his words here today. That is not to say that I don’t entirely endorse every part of this speech — indeed, I do — but I want honourable senators to keep in mind that these are Senator Housakos’s words and not mine.

Don’t ask me too many questions once I’ve finished speaking, please.

Honourable senators, I rise to speak to Bill C-321, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against health care professionals and first responders) — an effort to protect first responders and health care providers from assault during the execution of their duties.

This proposed amendment to the Criminal Code is a simple one that would require the courts to take into consideration, at sentencing, when the victim of an assault is a health care professional or a first responder.

I don’t need to convince any of you of the critical role that our first responders and health care professionals play in our society. They run toward danger when others flee. They provide care and comfort in times of crisis. They are often the last or only ones to do so as our loved ones take their dying breaths.

They often sacrifice their own physical and mental safety and well-being to ensure the safety and well-being of others. They are the backbone of our communities who deserve our utmost respect and protection.

Unfortunately, despite their selfless dedication to serving others, first responders and health care professionals are often faced with violence and aggression in the execution of their duties. Whether on the streets, in people’s homes or workplaces or providing care in a hospital setting, they are frequently subjected to verbal abuse, physical assaults and even threats on their lives. This needs to stop.

We need to do more to protect first responders and health care workers by enshrining recognition of the unique vulnerability of first responders and health care professionals in the Criminal Code. Bill C-321 sends a clear message that attacks against these individuals will not be tolerated and will be met with severe consequences.

Some may argue that existing laws already provide adequate protection for first responders and health care professionals. In reality, however, assaults against these individuals continue to occur at an alarming rate. Consider these appalling numbers, colleagues: Seventy-five percent of paramedics in Canada report experiencing violence of some sort while on the job.

A recent survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions showed that 61% of nurses across the country reported experiencing abuse, harassment and assault on the job. What’s worse is those numbers don’t tell the full story because they represent under-reporting of violence experienced by these professionals.

Leading experts in the health care sector believe that health care workers will not report the violence that they will face due to fears of reprisal from their employers. This needs to change. We need to ensure that these professionals feel supported and not left to fend for themselves.

Even for those of us who may not be convinced that sentencing acts as a deterrent for would-be assailants, we must consider that health care workers and first responders have said that sentencing requirements like those being proposed would encourage more victims of assault to report them.

Furthermore, by explicitly recognizing attacks against first responders and health care professionals as aggravating circumstances, we send a powerful message about the value we place on their contributions to society. We reaffirm our commitment to supporting and protecting those who put themselves in harm’s way for the greater good.

It is also worth noting that assaults against first responders and health care professionals not only harm the individual victims but also have broader implications for public safety. Everyone is put at greater risk when these professionals are unable to perform their duties because of fear of violence.

We rely on these individuals to provide essential services. Any impediment to their ability to do so jeopardizes the health and safety of our communities, not to mention that fewer and fewer people are choosing to even become paramedics, for instance. My office heard that a few weeks ago, when we met with members of the Association of Saskatchewan Paramedics. Colleagues, it’s not because these people don’t love their job or don’t want to genuinely help others; on the contrary, they are crying out for our help.

I would be remiss not to mention the sponsor of this bill in the other place, MP Todd Doherty, and the great work he has done on previous legislation for PTSD amongst first responders. Todd has been an incredible champion of these heroes. It is why I was more than happy to, again, sponsor one of his bills on behalf of these heroes among us.

Again, bear in mind this is Senator Housakos speaking.

I’ve met with many of these paramedics, emergency personnel and health care workers. My own wife has spent her entire adult life working at a hospital in Montreal.

She does an excellent job. I know her personally. It is not my wife; it is Senator Housakos’.

These men and women have dedicated their lives to helping and healing others. We are failing them, colleagues.

As the Vice President of Client Outreach at Public Services Health & Safety Association said:

Health care employers consider violence an occupational health and safety issue, but it needs to be considered a care issue. There is absolutely no hope for quality of care without considering worker safety. Having safe health care workers means better care.

We have an obligation to protect these people who provide such an important service to all of us. They should never have to endure violence or intimidation in the course of their work.

By enacting legislation that explicitly recognizes attacks against health care professionals as aggravating circumstances, we need to send a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the law. This, colleagues, is not a matter of politics. It is a matter of basic human decency and respect for those who serve on the front lines of our health care system.

Colleagues, I ask that we move this bill quickly to committee so that the Legal Committee can do its work and we can come back with legislation protecting and helping our front-line workers.

Thank you, colleagues.

Senator, do you have a question?

Yes. I want to take this moment to acknowledge the understudy of Senator Housakos for doing a brilliant job on his behalf.

That was on debate.

Are honourable senators ready for the question?

Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(Motion agreed to and bill read second time.)