https://www.cna-aiic.ca/fr/blogs/ic-contenu/2025/02/06/les-attaques-et-les-abus-envers-les-travailleurs
February 4, 2025 – The reprehensible assault of health workers in Halifax last week is a harsh reminder of the dangers health professionals across Canada face while trying to provide quality care to patients.
This latest example may be an extreme case, but the sad reality is that doctors, nurses and other health workers are subject to verbal and physical abuse on a daily basis. The results from the Canadian Medical Association’s (CMA) 2021 National Physician Health Survey found that eight in 10 physicians have experienced intimidation, bullying, harassment and/or microaggressions in the workplace at some point in their careers. Four in 10 reported that these experiences happen “frequently” or “often,” with women significantly more likely to say they happen at least once a week.
A recent national review of workplace violence reports highlighted that incidents against nurses have become more severe and frequent in recent years, often resulting in physical and psychological harm. Legally, workplace violence is classified as both a health and safety issue and a criminal offence in Canada. In Alberta, reports of violent incidents in health-care settings surged by 37% between 2019 and 2021.
We also acknowledge that toxic online behaviour increasingly manifests in real life. With influential figures normalizing the use of threats and bullying, it is unsurprising that these behaviours are being echoed in health-care settings. But hospitals, medical clinics and other health-care facilities simply can't tolerate this — people's health and lives are at stake.
In 2021, the federal government responded to calls for help from CMA, the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), and the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions with legislation that made it illegal to use threats and bullying to stop a health worker from providing care to patients. It also prohibits actions that would prevent a person from obtaining health services or accessing health facilities.
We urge the public to respect these laws and call on public safety and law enforcement officials to continue their vigilance in enforcing them.
Our thoughts are with the victims of the senseless assaults in Halifax and their families.
Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc
President, CNA
Linda Silas
President, CFNU
Dr. Joss Reimer
President, CMA
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About the Canadian Nurses Association
CNA is the national and global professional voice of Canadian nursing. Our mission is to advance the nursing profession to improve health outcomes in Canada’s publicly funded, not-for-profit health system. CNA is the only national association that speaks for all nurses in all sectors and practice settings across all 13 provinces and territories. We represent unionized and non-unionized nurses, retired nurses, nursing students, and all categories of nurses (licensed and registered practical nurses, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses).
For more information, please contact:
Amber Morley
Media and Communications Coordinator
Cell: 613-282-7859
Email: amorley@cna-aiic.ca
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