Gagetown soldier charged after incident with health-care worker, union seeks more security

An incident at 5th Division Support Base Gagetown’s medical center in Oromocto last week that led to criminal charges against a soldier has highlighted the need for more protective measures for staff at military medical clinics across the country, says the head of the national union.

A master corporal with the Canadian Armed Forces has been charged with forcible confinement, assault with a weapon and mischief causing property damage in connection with the incident March 12 involving a “health-care professional” at 42 Canadian Forces Health Services Center Gagetown.

Defense Department spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin declined to say whether the alleged victim was a man or a woman, or whether they were known to the 27-year-old accused, who had been posted at the base for about eight years.

“No one was injured during the incident,” Poulin said in an email.

But it prompted the clinic at the second largest military base in Canada to close for the rest of the week.

“To ensure the safety of patients and personnel,” some routine primary care and physiotherapy appointments were rescheduled for a few days, some of which were dealt with virtually on March 18, said Poulin.

“As of March 19, the clinic has reopened as per normal and is functioning full operations.”

Clinic staff are ‘fearful for their safety’

According to June Winger, national president of the Union of National Defense Employees, which represents about 18,000 public- and private-sector workers at DND locations across Canada, including administrative staff at the medical centre, the reason it remained closed is that staff refused to go to work.

“Members are fearful for their safety,” and it’s been an ongoing concern, he said.

“They want to have protections put in place to ensure that their safety is maintained while still being able to provide their very valuable service to the Canadian Armed Forces members.”

Winger disputes the notion no one was injured during the incident, which she alleges involved a knife and an attempted attack on a female nurse.

“Maybe nobody has a broken bone or a scar out of this, but there’s certainly been an injury,” she said.

“So of course we are quite adamant that more needs to happen, that there needs to be security measures implemented to ensure that everybody can stay safe at the workplace.”

Union seeks swipe-card access, metal detectors

Some of the measures the union is calling for include swipe-card access to medical centres, as many other buildings on bases have; metal detection equipment to ensure no one’s carrying a weapon; designated staff-only washrooms, and plexiglass barriers at reception desks.

In addition, the union wants a formalized process to flag high-risk patients and “immediate followup,” a zero tolerance policy and appropriate staffing levels, Winger said. She could not immediately provide staffing levels for the Gagetown medical center.

“These are all simple measures,” Winger said. “They’re entirely achievable. It just has to have some foresight and be willing to do it.”

‘Problematic across the country’

Winger contends added security measures were supposed to be in place at the Gagetown medical center before it moved into its new building in the past year — although the specifics of the contract have been “very difficult to track.”

Poulin did not respond to a request for details.

“This was a needless, tragic event that could have been prevented,” said Winger.

We will continue to work with National Defense and if we need to, engage [Employment and Social Development Canada, which enforces the Canada Labour Code] to make sure that members’ rights are being protected and that their safety is paramount.– June Winger, union president

“And I mean it’s not restricted to this location. This is problematic across the country.”

Winger and other union representatives are expected to meet Thursday with the national health and safety policy committee at National Defense to discuss the situation.

“We have also engaged with the heads of the health services, and we’re asking them to make sure that appropriate steps are implemented,” she said.

“We will continue to work with National Defense, and if we need to, engage [Employment and Social Development Canada, which enforces the Canada Labour Code] to make sure that members’ rights are being protected and that their safety is paramount, as it should be at all workplaces.”

Accused released on conditions

The accused, who was arrested by the military police and held in an RCMP cell pending a bail hearing, was released on conditions on March 14 and is scheduled to return to court on April 4.

“This case will now proceed through the civilian justice system and no further information can be released,” said Poulin.

She said basic leadership is following the matter closely to ensure professional support, including mental health support, is provided, and appropriate administrative or disciplinary action is taken in accordance with Canadian Armed Forces policy.

“The CAF holds its members to a high standard of conduct and performance,” Poulin said. “Canadians have a clear expectation that their Armed Forces remain disciplined at all times, while reflecting Canadian values ​​and ethics.”