Mr. Speaker, yesterday was International Nurses Day.
As a doctor who has worked 35 years in a lot of hospitals, in a lot of different countries, I have worked with thousands of nurses over the year. I, like every doctor, and I hope this is acceptable to say in Parliament, have had my butt saved on many occasions by nurses who have been far smarter than I. Any doctor who denies something similar happening to them is either a much better doctor than I or is someone who is hopelessly arrogant.
Certainly, the pandemic has taken its toll on nurses. It is estimated that over 17,000 health care workers globally have died as a result of COVID, many of them nurses. In addition, many nurses have not only had to work harder, they have done so in fear, fear for their own lives or fear that they might get sick and transmit the disease to their own families.
I hope all other doctors and MPs will join me in thanking our nurses.