SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 277

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 7, 2024 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 277 - Feb/7/24
Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • Feb/7/24 5:28:56 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, I will acknowledge that there are many different opinions that have been shared on this view by many different experts. As a matter of fact, some of the members of the special joint committee are going to be participating in the debate we are having tonight. We have to clear that this is not a matter of “if”. We are debating “when”. It has been recognized, and it is not up for debate, that a person suffering from mental illness, when it is irremediable, continued and impacting the quality of life of the individual, has the right and the dignity to make choices with their health practitioners. The expert panel noted that there were differing opinions on this and concerns, but when we are debating this tonight, it is not about arrogance. It is about having compassion and understanding the right to an individual's choice and dignity when they have deep, prolonged and ongoing suffering.
162 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 277 - Feb/7/24
Mr. Luc Thériault
  • Feb/7/24 6:35:01 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, briefly put, I would say they lack courage. In this place, courage and compassion are lacking, and action is based far too much on ideology. As I said earlier, only the individual can compare their life in one condition to their life in another condition, and this does not mean comparing two different lives. In that sense, we cannot turn a deaf ear to suffering. We have to listen and we have to act to make sure that these people receive care, of course. That is our goal. However, no matter how difficult it may be to determine whether a condition is irremediable, it would be intellectually dishonest to claim today that psychiatric treatment can relieve the suffering of everyone with severe mental disorders. For those whose suffering cannot be relieved and who request MAID in a considered and coherent manner, with all the safeguards I mentioned earlier in place, we have a duty to listen to what they think and to legislate accordingly.
166 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border