Canadian government needs more time to respond to Supreme Court assisted suicide decision.

Alex Schadenberg

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

On February 6, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada's assisted suicide law giving Canada's parliament 12 months to fill the legislative void.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) responded to the Supreme Court decision by explaining how the decision was irresponsible and dangerous to Canadians. We urged our supporters to lobby the Justice Minister and the government to Give us time by establishing a committee to examine the issues and by using the notwithstanding clause to gain the necessary time to bring forth a law to protect Canadians.

Currently EPC has distributed more than 160,000 Give us time! postcards on the issue.

Justice Minister Hon Peter MacKay, who is not running in the fall election, has acknowledged that the government "needs more time" to legislate on assisted suicide. The Canadian Press reported:

The federal government will need more time to deal with the Supreme Court's decision on doctor-assisted death, and asking for an extension would be a perfectly reasonable request, Justice Minister Peter MacKay said Tuesday. 

MacKay, who is not seeking re-election this October, said he suspects it is "very likely" the government — be it Conservative or otherwise — will need more time to address the decision, which came down in February. 

In finding that Canada's prohibition on physician-assisted suicide was a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the high court gave Parliament one year to deal with the issue in legislation. 

MacKay said there is "no guarantee" the court would be willing to grant an extension, but he said it would be a "reasonable request." He also insisted the next government would address the issue because of the legal void it creates. 

"To do otherwise, I think, would be dangerous and irresponsible,"

According to the Globe and Mail MacKay said that a legal void on assisted suicide is "dangerous and irresponsible." MacKay said:

It “leaves a lot of people vulnerable, particularly persons with disability, persons with advanced Alzheimer’s.”

Toronto Human Rights Lawyer, Hugh Scher, who also acts as legal counsel for the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition told advocate daily that: 

“It’s completely understandable in light of the present election season that it would be very difficult – if not impossible – to craft an appropriate regime that responds to the Supreme Court’s directives relative to questions about euthanasia or assisted suicide,” 

The failure to provide sufficient time to craft an appropriate response to the court ruling would otherwise leave a legislative vacuum that would basically allow assisted suicide on demand without any modicum of safeguards or regulations that would protect vulnerable people from the risk of serious abuse or otherwise prevent the serious risks of harm that have been seen in some other jurisdictions.

Hugh Scher

MacKay also stated that the Canadian government will establish a committee to examine the assisted suicide very soon. Scher also stated to advocate daily that:

It seems to me the federal government is intent to take action on this item, which would be in-keeping with both the ruling of the court but also the concerns and interests of Canadians across the country, 

I think realistically, the notion that the government should be prepared to enact legislation by judicial decree in the context of the legislature breaking for an election is unreasonable

The Canadian Medical Association responded by stating.

EPC campaign to protect people from assisted suicide.

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) responded to the Supreme Court of Canada assisted suicide decision with a letter writing campaign to politicians asking them to use the Notwithstanding Clause to protect Canadians from assisted suicide. EPC sent-out 160,000 post-cards asking the Government to use the Notwithstanding clause.

EPC is now promoting the Give us time! campaign in English and French.

The Give us time! campaign asks Canada's Justice Minister Hon Peter MacKay to:

1. Establish a Royal Commission on assisted suicide.
2. Use the notwithstanding clause to give us time.

The Give us time post-cards can be ordered in english or french from EPC for free at: info@epcc.ca or by calling toll free at: 1-877-439-3348.

Together we can make a difference.

• Do Not Kill Me: I oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide.
• The Carter decision - Not safe for doctors.
• Opposing the Supreme Court of Canada assisted death decision.
• Supreme Court of Canada assisted suicide decision is irresponsible and dangerous.

Will the Canadian government protect people from assisted suicide?

By Alex Schadenberg

Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC)

The Canadian Press is reporting that the federal government may not introduce a bill to protect Canadians from assisted suicide.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) responded to the irresponsible and dangerous Supreme Court decision by urging the Federal government to use the notwithstanding clause and to call a Royal Commission to protect people with disabilities, elders who live with abuse, depressed and suicidal people and others. It is not safe to give doctors, the right in law, assisted the suicide of their patients.

Opposing the Supreme Court of Canada assisted suicide decision.

EPC asked its members to write letters to Justice Minister Hon. Peter MacKay and their Members of Parliament, or to sign the online petition or to send a Give us time! post-card calling for a Royal Commission on assisted suicide and the use of the Notwithstanding clause.

Writing a letter is most effective but EPC has already distributed 160,000 post-cards. Order the Give us time! post-cards - for free - at: 1-877-439-3348 or info@epcc.ca.

Link to our campaign website at: www.giveustime.ca.

The Canadian Press article that was written by Joan Bryden, states that:

When the Supreme Court struck down the prohibition on physician-assisted dying last February, it gave the federal government 12 months to craft a new law ... 

With Parliament scheduled to sit just six more weeks before an extended break for the summer and a fall election, the government has only three or four months in which to introduce, debate and pass a new law.

Earlier, the Hon Bob Dechert, parliamentary secretary to the health minister, argued that consultation by a committee wouldn't be broad enough to do justice to such a complex, explosive issue. Dechert stated:

"In fact, we are suggesting tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of Canadians need to be heard on this issue," he said, promising that "meaningful consultations" via the Internet, public meetings and other means would be launched "very soon."

A spokesperson for Justice Minister Peter MacKay told Bryden that:

"We recognize the tight timeline imposed on us by the Supreme Court and we should be in a position to announce the way forward on this file in due course."

Letter writing is most effective, but if you only want to send a message to Justice Minister Peter MacKay then sign the online petition or order post-cards.

Opposing the Supreme Court of Canada assisted death decision.

By Alex Schadenberg
EPC Executive Director

On February 6, the Supreme Court made an irresponsible and dangerous decision by decriminalizing assisted death. The EPC Board wants the Federal government to invoke the notwithstanding clause to protect people with disabilities, elders who live with abuse, depressed and suicidal  people and others. It is not safe to enable one person to be enabled, by the law, to kill another person.

Please write a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau, or Justice Minister Judy Wilson-Raybould or your Member of Parliament, sign the online petition or send a post-card calling for the use of the Notwithstanding Clause. 

Order the post-cards for free at: 1-877-439-3348 or info@epcc.ca.

Letter writing is effective, but if you only want a message sent to the government then please sign the online petition.

Letter writing: Your letter should state:
To the Hon... or (Member of Parliament):

Parliament must continue to protect people with disabilities, elders, people who live with depression or suicidal thoughts, and other people from assisted suicide. 

This needs to be done through the use of the Notwithstanding clause to protect Canadians from assisted death.

I am concerned ... (add a comment related to one of the 8 talking points articles). 

Yours Sincerely (Name).

 Talking Points:

1. People with disabilities oppose assisted suicide.
2. Assisted suicide debate masks disability prejudice.
3. Assisted suicide has devalued the lives of the elderly in Washington State.
4. United Nations: Abuse of older women overlooked and under-reported.
5. Depressed mother died by euthanasia in Belgium.
6. Supreme court allows assisted suicide for depressed people.
7. Suicide rate in Oregon continues to increase faster than the national average.
8. Suicide prevention at odds with assisted suicide.

Letter writing campaign - Contact information:

Prime Minister Rt Hon. Justin Trudeau
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6 (No stamp is necessary)

Justice Minister Hon Judy Wilson Raybould
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6 (No stamp is necessary)

Your Member of Parliament (Name) MP
(Link to list of Members of Parliament)
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6 (No stamp is necessary)

Rethink Euthanasia

This letter was published on December 13 in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix.

By Dr Linda Baker

In his column Where's the line in legalizing euthanasia? (Dec 9) Andrew Coyne makes a factual, dispassionate presentation on the situation in place in Quebec currently and is being considered federally. These are the same arguments against allowing euthanasia being raised by the Canadian Society of Palliative Physicians, the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition of Canada, and the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada, among others.

Unfortunately, some of these organizations are mistakenly viewed as "Christian fundamentalists" with an agenda to impose their values on others. I hope Coyne's objective summary will speak sense to citizens and government before we misguidedly go down a path that we as a country will regret. Witness what is happening in Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Canadians need to realize that pain usually can be well controlled, and that physicians are seeking to improve palliative care. During the course of any illness, patients have the right to decline recommended treatment they feel is burdensome or futile.

I urge all readers to find Coyne's column and read it if you missed it, and consider the implications. Better yet, pass it on to your friends and family and discuss it.

Coalition of Physicians for Social Justice launch court case to stop Québec euthanasia Bill 52

Euthanasia : Since Québec has turned a deaf ear, 

they are now turning to the Courts in order to be heard

MONTRÉAL, May 27, 2014 /CNW Telbec/

 
A Motion for Declaratory Judgment is in the process of being filed in the Superior Court of the district of Montréal.

The Plaintiffs are Ms Lisa D'Amico, a handicapped person, and Dr. Paul J. Saba, a family doctor. This Motion is instituted against the Attorney-General of Québec and also impleads the Attorney-General of Canada, in order to obtain a declaration to the effect that:

(1) The euthanasia of a human being by his doctor, a notion more known in Québec under the euphemism «medical aid in dying» or «aide médicale à mourir», is not medical care.

(2) Québec does not have jurisdiction to legislate on this subject.

(3) Euthanasia is contrary to the Canadian and Québec Charters of Rights, the Criminal Code of Canada, The Civil Code of Québec, the Health and Social Services Act of Québec, the Doctors' Code of Ethics and The Constitution Act, 1867.

(4) It is not and will not be possible in Québec for patients concerned by euthanasia to provide a free and informed consent because of their vulnerability which is exacerbated by a lack of resources in the health care system, because of their medical condition and the lack of universal access to palliative care for all persons who require such care, particularly to diminish suffering.

(5) It is illogical to entrust doctors only to verify the conditions for euthanasia and provide the lethal injection, as this would cause them to be in violation of their Code of Ethics as well as the criminal law.

Ms. D'Amico has a personal interest to act because she fears that the shortfall of medical care and social care in Québec will put her in a very vulnerable position and entice her to accept euthanasia as a result of the evolution of her condition.

Doctor Saba believes that no one should ask a doctor to perform euthanasia. He reminds us of two of the fundamental principles of the practice of medicine:

The Federal government opposes Québec euthanasia Bill

Petition: Stop Euthanasia Bill 52 in Quebec.

By Alex Schadenberg

Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Justice Minister Peter MacKay

A spokesperson for Justice Minister Peter MacKay responded on May 23 to the re-introduction of the Québec euthanasia Bill 52 by stating:

"The issue of assisted suicide creates great excitement and divisions among many Canadians. Our government believes that the provisions of the Criminal Code prohibiting assisted suicide and euthanasia are used to protect all people, including the most vulnerable people in our society."

The spokesperson for the Justice Minister also stated that the federal government uses the terms euthanasia and assisted suicide, rather than end-of-life care.

Québec's Bill 52 will give doctors the right to lethally inject their patients based on the patient having physical or psychological pain.

Bill 52 masks the reality of the bill by defining euthanasia as a form of medical treatment that is part of "end-of-life care."

Québec Premier Philippe Couillard responded by stating:

"This is a bill about end of life care, the continuum of care,"

If Bill 52 is passed by the Québec National Assembly, groups in Québec have already stated that they will bring the government to court based on the fact that euthanasia is a form of homicide and not medical treatment and therefore the Québec government does not have the right to legislate on this issue.

Petition: Stop Euthanasia Bill 52 in Quebec.

- Québec's euthanasia bill is unconstitutional, imprecise and lethal.

Québec's euthanasia Bill 52 will likely go to a vote in February.

What can I do to stop Québec's euthanasia Bill 52?

Sign the online petition: Québec's euthanasia Bill 52 is lethal.

Youtube video: Jean Vanier and Dr Balfour Mount denounce Bill 52. (Link).

You can email Québec politicians to urge them to stop Bill 52: 

Bertrand St-Arnaud, Québec's Minister of Justice and Attorney General: ministre@justice.gouv.qc.ca.

Dr Réjean Hébert, Québec’s Minister of Health and Social Services: ministre@msss.gouv.qc.ca.

You can contact the Hon. Peter MacKay, Justice Minister of Canada, and urge him, that if Bill 52 passes:

to equally protect every Canadian from euthanasia by challenging Bill 52 in the court as unconstitutional and to bring an injunction against Bill 52. 

Bill 52 is unconstitutional because it redefines an act of lethal injection as "health care."

Hon. Peter MacKay: 284 Wellington St., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H8 or email: mcu@justice.gc.ca. Letters are better than email.

You can contact the group Vivre dans la Dignité (Living with Dignity) in Quebec for further instructions:  info@vivredignite.com.

What should I know about Québec's euthanasia Bill 52?

• Bill 52 will give Québec doctors the right to lethally inject their patients when they are physically or psychological suffering.

• Bill 52 does not limit euthanasia to terminally ill people. The bill states that a person must be at the end of life but the bill doesn't define "end of life" and it allows euthanasia for psychological suffering, which cannot be defined.

• Bill 52 targets people with disabilities. The bill states that a person must be in “an advanced and irreversible decline of function.” Many people with disabilities fit this criteria. Since the bill does not define "end of life" euthanasia will be easily extended to people with disabilities.

• Euthanasia is a form of homicide (murder) in the federal Criminal Code.

• Bill 52 defines killing by euthanasia as a part of "health care" in order to avoid the federal Criminal Code prohibition from lethally injecting someone.

• Bill 52 defines “medical aid in dying” (euthanasia) as a part of end-of-life care.

• Bill 52 creates a right to end-of-life care. Since euthanasia is defined as part of end-of-life care, the bill therefore creates a right to euthanasia.

Links to more information:

• Québec Bill 52: The Truth, The Facts, The Numbers.

• Download the poster: Québec's euthanasia Bill 52 is lethal.

• Québec's euthanasia Bill 52 is lethal (article).

• Québec's euthanasia Bill 52 to be voted-on in mid-February.

• Québec's euthanasia Bill 52 and the Belgian euthanasia law are not safe.

Liberal's to debate euthanasia at their February 20 - 23, 2014 convention in Montreal

Post Media News is reporting that the Liberal Party of Canada will likely debate euthanasia at their February 20 - 23 party convention in Montreal.

Resolution 90: Assisted suicide:

"BE IT RESOLVED that voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide be permitted under the Criminal Code of Canada in the circumstances set out by Justice Smith in her decision in the British Columbia case of Carter v. Canada (Attorney General)."
Post Media News reported:

The Young Liberals of Canada are the driving force behind the move after they agreed to sponsor a resolution calling for the legalization of doctor-assisted suicide, Postmedia News has learned. 

While a proposal to support legalizing prostitution may not even make it onto the larger convention floor, the resolution on euthanasia is expected to be tagged a priority, which would mean it must be debated by all delegates during the Feb. 20-23 policy convention. 

Euthanasia has emerged as a hot political topic given Canada’s aging population and several high-profile cases, including one legal challenge in British Columbia that the Supreme Court said Thursday it would hear.

Justice Minister: "Laws surrounding euthanasia and assisted suicide exist to protect all Canadians."

Hon. Peter MacKay

Hon. Peter MacKay, Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada commented on the Appeal Court ruling that upheld Canada's laws protecting people from euthanasia and assisted suicide.

In a statement issued by his press secretary Paloma Aguilar, Justice Minister Peter MacKay also defended the Appeal Court's ruling.

"The decision made today by the B.C. Court of Appeal reinforces our government’s view that the Criminal Code provisions that prohibit medical professionals, or anyone else, from counselling or providing assistance in a suicide, are constitutionally valid," he said.  

"The laws surrounding euthanasia and assisted suicide exist to protect all Canadians, including those who are most vulnerable."

Link to the Canadian Press video of Hon. Peter MacKay explaining his opposition to legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide.

The case will likely be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Links to similar articles:

BC Court of Appeal upholds protections in law from euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Canada's federal government will not support assisted suicide.

Canada's Health Minister says no to assisted suicide.