Manitoba government wants to give hospital security guards the power to intervene

The Manitoba government wants to give hospital security guards the power to detainviolent individuals.

In response to the rise ofviolence at health-care facilities, the province introduced a bill Monday that would provide security guardswith the authority to enforce provincial lawswhen the security of people and property are at risk.

Justice Minister Cliff Cullen said he wants detainment to be among the responsibilities for these empowered security guards,who would be described as institutional safety officers.

Their other duties would be determinedthrough consultation, as well as the type of training, uniforms and equipment they receive,Cullen said.

"Public safety is paramount and that's why we want to make sure that we have individuals with the authority necessary and the training to deal with those respective situations," he said.

He hopes the move will leave police officers on the street, rather thanin hospital.

The province described these safety officers as havingsimilar dutiesto community safety officers and First Nations safety officers.

"The role of an institutional safetyofficeris built on what we've heard from health providers and others about improvements that can be made that benefit patients, visitors and staff," Health Minister Cameron Friesen said in a news release.

Patient goes on violent rampage against staff at HSC

6 years ago

Duration 0:18

The CBC obtained this footage of an incident that occurred at the Health Sciences Centre on Aug. 31.

Security guards, some who have been assaulted, currently deal with"unclear powers that limittheir ability to act in certain situations, Cullen said.

He explained that post-secondary institutions and other government facilities, such as liquor stores,could also include safety officers as part of their security personnel.

The bill's introduction comes the same day the province announced a review of the security facilitiesat each health-care facility, also because of worsening violence.

More booze to sell in rural communities

The province also introduced five other bills Mondayat the Manitoba Legislature.

If the legislation passes, small beer vendorsin rural communities couldsell cider and spirit-based coolers and provincial inspectors couldenforce thepossession limit of no more than 30 grams of non-medical cannabis.

Other bills would double the penalty to $500,000against businesses blamed for serious workplace infractions andmake companies and unions mired in bargaining processes to hire their own conciliator to resolve disputes, which was previously a provincial expense.

Ared tape reduction bill includes theelimination of a retail quirk where shopsare open on Sunday, July 1 the actual holidaybut must close on July 2, the observance date for Canada Day every 11 years. The wonky scenario last happened in 2018.