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Canadian government needs more time to respond to assisted suicide decision

Jun 18, 2015

By Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director – Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Canadian Justice Minister Peter MacKay

Canadian Justice Minister Peter MacKay

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 such a legal void

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

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

Categories: Assisted Suicide