Ottawa asks Québec to postpone implementation of euthanasia law.

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Canada's new Justice Minister, Jody Wilson-Raybould, wants Québec to wait until the federal government has legislated on assisted dying, before Québec implements its own euthanasia law, that was to begin on December 10, 2015. 

Send a message and sign our online petition to Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould.

According to Le Devoir (translated from French):

If it was up to the new Federal Justice Minister, medical aid in dying would not be available in Quebec starting next December 10. Jody Wilson-Raybould would like the province to suspend the application of its law on time for Ottawa concocts his own. 

"We'd like to avoid the uncertainty of our approach about medical aid in dying by having the federal legislative framework implemented before the legislation in Quebec is effective", said Ms. Wilson-Raybould in an interview with Le Devoir Wednesday. When asked ... if it means that she would like Québec to wait, the Minister answered "yes".

The Supreme Court of Canada made a dangerous and irresponsible decision to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide on February 6, 2015 and to give parliament only 12 months to bring forth new legislation. Since Canada had an election on October 19, implementing new legislation by February 6, 2016 was impossible.

EPC is urging  the Justice Minister to use the notwithstanding clause, or at least, ask the Supreme Court of Canada for an extension. Send a message and sign our online petition to Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould.

EPC intervened, on November 24, in a court action by the Physicians Alliance for Social Justice to obtain an injunction to prevent the December 10, implementation of the Québec euthanasia law. The judge is likely to release a judgement on Monday.

More information about the Québec euthanasia law:

• Québec trying to force physician participation in euthanasia.
• Québec euthanasia kit offers no effective oversight over life and death.
• Concealing euthanasia as the cause of death is a recipe for disaster.
• Québec doctors survey indicates that euthanasia will be abused.