Our last chance: a dozen votes away from defeating C-14
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- Published on Thursday, 19 May 2016 05:15
- Written by editor
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Dear PAOV,
I'm sorry we're emailing you more than once today, but this is really important.
TODAY your MP will vote on Bill C-14, the proposed assisted dying bill.
With news that the federal government's restrictive approach to assisted dying has been "shot down in flames"1 by the Alberta Court of Appeal, we're learning that we may be just a dozen votes away from defeating Bill C-14.
If Bill C-14 is defeated, patients and physicians will still be required to meet the rigorous criteria set out by the Supreme Court of Canada. There will be no regulatory vacuum.
But if MPs vote yes on Bill C-14 they will put in place a new law that violates the Charter rights of suffering Canadians, and Canadians will be forced to live under that law until it is dragged through the courts all over again. That is too much to ask of sick and suffering families.
That's why I'm asking you to take action right now.
Use this online tool to write your MP today, demanding safe access to medically assisted dying.
It's been five long year since our clients (including Gloria and Lee pictured above) first entered the court system to fight for the right to a peaceful and dignified assisted death. In the journey to get to this vote, we have lost many friends and courageous advocates. Today, in their name or the name of someone you hold dear, please contact your MP and tell them to vote against Bill C-14.
It's not too late. Many MPs have publicly declared that they will vote against the overly restrictive bill... we just need to convince a few more that we're watching. How will your MP vote?
The Minister of Justice and your MP need to hear from you right now.
Sincerely,
Charlotte Kingston
BCCLA Director of Community Engagement
1.Federal rationale for restricting assisted dying shot down by Alberta appeal court. http://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/politics/federal-rationale-for-restricting-assisted-dying-shot-down-by-alberta-appeal-court-1.2906806
More information- What happens if Bill C-14 is defeated?
The Supreme Court of Canada’s death with dignity ruling will come into effect on June 6th.
Critically ill Canadians will be able to avail themselves of physician-assisted dying without the need to seek an order for an exemption from a court.
There will be no regulatory vacuum. Patients will be required to meet the rigorous criteria set out by the Supreme Court of Canada. Physician-assisted dying will be regulated by the provincial and territorial laws that apply to health care matters and the standards of the medical profession.
Physicians will be required to follow the mandatory directives of their governing medical colleges which have promulgated detailed guidelines and safeguards pertaining to the practice of physician-assisted dying. In short, these will be medical decisions that will be made by critically ill patients and their physicians.
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