Intimidation of healthcare workers would carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison under a new bill tabled on Friday. This legislation also grants 10 days of paid sick leave to workers under federal jurisdiction.
It is unacceptable that network employees do not feel safe when working or when they receive death threats, Justice Minister David Lametti stressed at a press conference.
In recent months, anti-vaccination protesters have gathered near hospitals in several provinces across the country, sometimes blocking access. The minister recalled that protesters also prevented children from being vaccinated against COVID-19.
The bill thus creates a new offense. The Criminal Code changes would also apply to patients trying to access health care. The maximum penalty for any offender would be increased from 5 to 10 years.
This offense will also apply to abortion clinics which often grapple with protesters trying to discourage women from using them.
The bill also grants 10 days of sick leave for employees of federally chartered companies such as banks, transportation and electronic media. Since the start of the pandemic, some workers have been reluctant to carry out a quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 to avoid losing income.
Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan said it was a first step. He intends to call on the provinces and territories to follow suit and legislate to grant 10 days of sick leave in all other sectors.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had promised to legislate to limit demonstrations near health establishments and to create these sick days.
The National Assembly already passed a law in September to ban demonstrations against vaccination within 50 meters of schools, daycares and hospitals in Quebec. It provides for fines of $ 1,000 to $ 6,000 for protesters and $ 2,000 to $ 12,000 for anyone who intimidates another who tries to access these places. They double in the event of a recurrence.