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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

Sturko Calls for Peace Officers in Hospitals After Shocking Nurse Assaults at Eagle Ridge


“Healthcare workers shouldn’t have to sue this government to be safe in their workplace. It’s time for the Health Minister to take a new approach, and place peace officers in high-risk hospitals like they do in other provinces.”  ~~ Elenore Sturko, Critic for Solicitor General and Public Safety & MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale



Elenore Sturko, MLA for Surrey South with the Conservative Party of British Columbia, is calling for immediate and concrete action from the NDP government following multiple violent incidents at Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody, including a nurse who suffered a dislocated jaw and another threatened with a machete. 


A CBC investigation revealed a pattern of serious workplace violence in Fraser Health facilities, and allegations that healthcare workers who spoke out were met with retaliation or silence from the authority. Both incidents are now part of a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court, alleging a toxic and unsafe work environment.


“The Minister of Public Safety confirmed that the Government’s Relational Security Officers are NOT licensed to deal with weapons and violence. The government must shift to a healthcare safety model that is equipped to deal with the risk faced by healthcare workers every day.”


Fraser Health currently relies on relational security officers, private security staff who are not licensed to respond to violent or armed individuals. Critics, including frontline healthcare workers, have warned that this model is not adequate in today’s emergency departments, where assaults and threats are increasingly common.


“I’m calling on the government to deploy trained peace officers in high-risk emergency departments to protect both staff and patients,” said MLA Sturko. “We need an independent investigation into Fraser Health’s handling of workplace violence and the disturbing allegations of retaliation against those who speak up. It’s time we implement real whistleblower protections so healthcare workers can raise concerns without fear, and to mandate province-wide hospital violence prevention protocols that ensure every facility is a safe place to work and receive care.”


“The Minister needs to put herself in the shoes of a nurse. Would her response change if it was her jaw that was violently dislocated? In the legislature elected officials are protected by police, security, and metal detectors. Our healthcare professionals and their patients should be entitled to the same level of protection.” 

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