SummarySpren for "C-62, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), No. 2"
- • The ordinary hour of daily adjournment for today's sitting will be midnight.
• No quorum calls, dilatory motions, or requests for unanimous consent will be received by the Chair after 6:30 p.m.
- 1. The Government of Canada is proposing to extend the temporary exclusion of eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAID) for persons suffering solely from a mental illness to March 17, 2027.
2. The extension is necessary to ensure that the healthcare system can safely provide MAID in complex cases, and to address concerns raised by provinces and territories regarding healthcare system preparedness.
- • The Liberal government is pushing ahead with a radical and reckless plan to expand Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) for mental illness, despite significant clinical, legal, and ethical problems.
• The government has ignored expert advice, evidence, and the concerns of provinces and territories, and is instead kicking the can down the road with a three-year pause, without any indication that the fundamental problems can be resolved.
- 1. Bill C-62 seeks to further delay the implementation of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) for mental disorders as a sole underlying medical condition until March 17, 2027.
2. The bill inserts a legislative requirement for the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying to review the issue before the deadline and make a determination.
Additionally, the speaker highlighted the following points:
1. The history of the issue, including the original version of Bill C-7 and the Senate amendment that reversed the government's position on mental disorders qualifying for MAID.
2. The complexity and sensitivity of the issue, with conflicting opinions from professionals and the need for a fully ready system before changing any laws.
3. The letter signed by seven provinces and three territories, urging a pause on the implementation of the expanded MAID eligibility criteria to enable further collaboration between provinces, territories, and the federal government.