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House Bill

Bill C-220

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 16, 2021
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assault against a health care worker)
  • Bill C-220 is an amendment to the Criminal Code that is focused on assault against health care workers. If someone assaults a health care worker, this bill requires the court to consider it as an aggravating circumstance when determining the appropriate sentencing for the offender. The bill defines a health care worker as anyone employed in a health care setting, such as a hospital or clinic. This amendment aims to increase the protection and recognition of the important work done by health care workers and ensure that assaults against them are taken seriously.
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Context: House Hansard - 19 - Dec/16/21
Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP)
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-220, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assault against a health care worker). He said: Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to introduce an important bill to Parliament with thanks to the hon. member for Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke for seconding it. This legislation would amend the Criminal Code to require a court to consider the fact that the victim of an assault is a health care worker as an aggravating circumstance for the purposes of sentencing. Violence against health care workers has become a pervasive and growing problem within the Canadian health care system. Over the last decade, violence-related lost time claims for front-line health care workers have increased by 66%: That is three times the rate for police and correctional officers combined. This is absolutely unacceptable. Health care workers take care of us when we are at our most vulnerable, and we have a responsibility to protect them in return. This legislation would send a strong message that those who provide such critical services must be treated with respect and security. I call on all parliamentarians to support this vital and overdue initiative.
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