(Ottawa) The federal Liberals introduced an omnibus bill that would grant sick leave to some workers and punish anyone who harasses healthcare workers.
The bill would grant 10 days of paid sick leave to federally regulated workers, who make up a small percentage of the overall Canadian workforce.
Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan said on Friday that sick leave fills a hole in the country’s social safety net that the pandemic has exposed.
He added that the government would work with the provinces and territories so that they can replicate the federal promise for workers under their jurisdiction.
At the same time, the law would create two new Criminal Code offenses: one for anyone threatening a healthcare worker, someone who assists a healthcare worker in performing their duties, or someone trying to access healthcare services. health care, and another for anyone caught obstructing access to a health care facility.
The penalty for either offense could be up to 10 years in prison.
Justice Minister David Lametti admitted that the Criminal Code already contains generic offenses protecting individuals from intimidation, threats, violence and obstruction of their ability to profit or use property . But he said the amendments would give police and prosecutors additional tools to specifically protect healthcare workers and users of healthcare services.
They also come with a higher maximum sentence, since the current general sentence for bullying is a maximum of five years, he added.
Both issues were high on the government’s legislative agenda when MPs returned to Parliament Hill this week for the first time since the September 20 election.
The Liberals want the measures passed in the House of Commons before mid-December, when MPs go on vacation.
The DD Katharine Smart, president of the Canadian Medical Association, calls on MPs to quickly review the bill, saying legislative action is needed to prevent preventable tragedies.