(Image Credit: Adam Berls/CKPGtoday.ca)

By Adam Berls

violence against health care workers

Northern B.C. MP’s private member’s bill aims for stiffer penalties for those who commit violence against health care workers

Jun 27, 2023 | 2:13 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — The House of Commons has dissolved for the summer, but a local MP is one step closer to seeing his bill move forward in Ottawa.

A bill put forward by a Northern B.C. MP has moved on to the next stage in it’s legislative life. Todd Doherty, MP for Cariboo-Prince George, has put forward Bill C-321, which is an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding assaults against health care workers and first responders.

“So the intent is for stiffer penalties and sentences for those that are committing these acts of violence and sexual assault against those who are just trying to heal us, make us better or save us.” – Todd Doherty, MP, Cariboo-Prince George (Conservative)

Doherty mentioned that it was a paramedic from Ontario who told their story that motivated him to put the bill forward. The paramedic and her partner were administering CPR on a patient when she was physically assaulted.

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Groups that have backed this bill include the Ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Dispatchers of BC, whose president says that they are seeing a rise in violence, including targeted incidents.

The bill has passed both first and second readings, and the second reading passed the house unanimously last Wednesday and is now in the committee stage, but the bill still has to go through third reading, and be passed by Senate before becoming law.

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Twitter: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com