Flynn comments on The Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada report that says that between 2008 and 2013 there were more than 4,000 reported incidents of workplace violence against Canada’s registered nurses and licensed practical nurses that were serious enough to prevent them going to work. The Board says this is more than police officers and firefighters combined. Flynn says the province has launched a three-year inspection program, with the goal of bringing every hospital into compliance.

I think there was that cultural part of this that we’re trying to overcome, that if you became a nurse you…would be asked to go into a violent situation and there was potential for you getting hurt and that was OK. Obviously, it’s completely unacceptable. The law clearly allows us to lay charges (against hospitals) and we will lay charges where it’s necessary. We’re very, very serious about this. There has to be a consequence to not doing the right thing or to be told to do the right thing and deciding that you’re not going to.