Euthanasia bill will be defeated

Deborah Gyapong has written an excellent article about Bill C-384 and the reactions of members of parliament. The article is below my comments and it is well worth reading.

I am convinced that we are going to defeat Bill C-384. Since the wind is in our sails that doesn't mean that we should rest, but rather it means that we need to turn up the heat.

I am incredibly pleased with the number of people who have contacted their members of parliament and that work needs to continue, but I am concerned about how few letters have been written to newspapers across Canada.

Please consider writing a letter to your local newspaper. Letters to the editor are often read and many times other readers will respond to those letters.

When writing a letter to the editor you need to try to tell a personal story. This is an important approach because many people are inclined to softly support euthanasia because they fear dying in pain or feeling lonely and abandoned in their final years or days of life. Personal stories will often influence a large number of people who currently fear death, making them understand how legalizing euthanasia is in fact a threat to their life or the life of a friend or a family member.

The contact information for newspapers across Canada can be found at: http://www.altstuff.com/newspapr.htm
If we can continue to speak to our members of parliament and begin to write articles in our newspapers we will be able to effect the culture and create a greater long-term opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide

The article by Deborah Gyapong:
Opponents say few MPs back legalization of assisted suicide

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2342782/posts
Deborah Gyapong - Sept 17, 2009

OTTAWA - Opponents of assisted-suicide and euthanasia bill C-384 express confidence the bill will be defeated if it comes to a vote this fall.

That is if an election does not kill Bloc Quebecois MP Francine Lalonde's private member's bill first. Elections in 2006 and 2008 killed Lalonde's two previous attempts to legalize assisted suicide.

"In the sense that it might happen, I'm quite confident that the vote's actually going to go the right way," said Conservative MP Rod Bruinooge, who chairs the parliamentary pro-life caucus. "On this one, there's clear lack of support in our party."

Bruinooge predicted many Liberals would also vote against the bill, as well as some in the New Democratic Party. Most of the support for Lalonde's bill will come from within her own caucus, he said.

Private member's bills, especially those dealing with conscience issues, are free votes, though the justice minister and opposition justice critics may recommend a position.

A spokesman for Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said the government has not taken a position on Bill C-384. Nor is it planning to remove assisted suicide and euthanasia from the Criminal Code.

NDP justice critic MP Joe Comartin said he is going to recommend his caucus vote against the bill.

Comartin said Canada needs to establish a cross-country network of good palliative and hospice care, including training in cutting-edge pain management techniques for frontline doctors. Otherwise, there is no real choice when someone is offered either intractable pain or assisted suicide.

When excellent palliative and hospice care is available, the issue of assisted suicide does not arise, he said.

However, Comartin doubts there will be unanimity in the NDP caucus.

A LOT OF CAUTION
Liberal MP John McKay said he did not expect the Liberal Party to support the bill. "I think there's a lot of caution to be exercised in this area."

Bill C-384 is scheduled for its first hour of debate in late September or early October. Its second hour of debate and a vote would not happen until later in the fall.

If the bill passes second reading, it must go to committee, then back to the House, then on to the Senate, pushing its passage well into the spring.

Canada's Catholic bishops, the Catholic Organization for Life and Family, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) and other groups mounted a campaign, urging Canadians to contact their MPs.

That campaign has been successful, according to EPC executive director Alex Schadenberg who has urged the defeat of Lalonde's bill on second reading. He predicts at least 155 MPs would vote against it.

"I'm cautious, obviously, because you never know before the final vote is taken."

Schadenberg differs from activists who hope an election will kill the bill. "I'm actually wanting to defeat this bill.

"We need to have members of Parliament send a strong message that this is not the way Canada should be going."

He urged caution because a segment of the intellectual elite, with access to the media, is pushing euthanasia. "We cannot let our guard down."