The head of a Burnaby-based non-profit addressed the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health on June 4 on workplace violence in Canada’s continuing care sector.

SafeCare BC CEO Jennifer Lyle — speaking on behalf of the Canadian Association of Long-Term Care — said the sector was in a state of crisis. She raised three main concerns: understaffing, lack of resources, and the increasing pressure faced by health care workers.

“Consider the numbers: Nationally, time-loss claims due to violence in health and social services have increased by over 65% in the past ten years,” Lyle said.

In B.C. alone, over 60% of all workplace violence claims come from the health and social services among major industry groups, despite the sector accounting for only 11% of the provincial workforce.