Why did the Ontario Government Committee exclude EPC from the Bill 84 hearings?

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

On January 6, EPC published the article: Ontario assisted dying legislation (Bill 84) lacks any effective oversight of the law.

The Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs is receiving written and oral submissions concerning Bill 84, the Medical Assistance in Dying Statute Law Amendment Act.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) contacted the Committee and formally requested permission to provide oral submission to the Committee concerning Bill 84. The Clerk of the Committee was clearly told that EPC is Canada's leading group opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide and our voice should be heard.

The Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs rejected the EPC request to make an oral submission to the committee concerning Bill 84.

We need you to contact:

Eric Rennie, the Clerk of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs at: erennie@ola.org (416) 325-3506 and Peter Milczyn, MPP, Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs at: pmilczyn.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org and ask them:

Why did you decide to exclude the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, the leading group that opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide, from the hearings?

Do you not want to know what is wrong with the bill? 

Democratic values include listening to all perspectives.

Bill 84 regulates euthanasia and assisted suicide in Ontario, but the language of the bill is dangerous because it lacks any effective oversight of the law.