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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 281

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 13, 2024 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 281 - Feb/13/24
The Deputy Speaker
  • Feb/13/24 10:04:16 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-62 
I appreciate the help, but that is descending into debate. I would also suggest to people here this evening to stick to the bill at hand, Bill C-62, which we are counting down to really quickly. Questions and comments, the hon. member for Louis-Hébert.
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Mr. Joël Lightbound (Louis-Hébert, Lib.)
  • Feb/13/24 10:04:37 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-62 
Mr. Speaker, I apologize to the parliamentary secretary. He is used to this, but I think he can make room for others. I fully agree with my colleague on many things. We need more mental health resources and more access to care. There are several socio-economic factors that can exacerbate mental illness. As far as today's bill is concerned, I would like us to look at things from another angle. Let us look at the genesis of what brought us to include mental illness as grounds to request medical assistance in dying. It came from a Senate amendment that, in my opinion, should not have been accepted by the government. I do not want to make any assumptions, but we are hearing rumours that senators might try to block what could be the will of the House to delay this for three years, as Bill C‑62 seeks to do. What is my colleague's opinion about the role the Senate should play with respect to the House, whose members are duly elected to make decisions?
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Ms. Bonita Zarrillo
  • Feb/13/24 10:05:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what we need to do here is to start thinking about the future and start reacting to what needs to be done now. We have a very small window to save people from this expansion. We need to get social programs in place before we do any more expansions on this type of program.
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Mr. Luc Thériault (Montcalm, BQ)
  • Feb/13/24 10:06:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we need to move quickly to save people. I am all in favour of implementing social programs to save people, but does the member have a different point of view from the Conservatives right now? If we invest in social programs, will people all of a sudden get relief after 30 years of suffering and inadequate treatment? The accessibility of frontline services is another debate. How can we shut down debate today by claiming that, if ever we move forward with expanding MAID eligibility to people with mental disorders, then that would be an affront to people's integrity, when the fact is that MAID is voluntary? What is more, there are people who are going to examine the request and, if a person is suicidal or receiving care for the first time, then they will not have access to medical assistance in dying. I am trying hard to make people understand that just because a person makes a request does not mean that they will be eligible. When the member says things like that, how does she think that her point of view differs from what we have been hearing from the Conservatives today?
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Ms. Bonita Zarrillo
  • Feb/13/24 10:07:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I will just go back to the comment from one of my residents who said that they are imploring “the government to reconsider this expansion...and to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the mental health professionals to safeguard the well-being of...Canadians, especially the most vulnerable”.
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The Deputy Speaker
  • Feb/13/24 10:08:02 p.m.
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There being no further members rising for debate, pursuant to order made earlier today, it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill now before the House. The question is on the amendment. If a member participating in person wishes that the amendment be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.
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Mr. Richard Bragdon
  • Feb/13/24 10:08:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we request a recorded division.
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The Deputy Speaker
  • Feb/13/24 10:08:59 p.m.
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Pursuant to order made earlier today, the division stands deferred until Wednesday, February 14, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions. It being 10:09, pursuant to an order made earlier today, the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1). (The House adjourned at 10:09 p.m.)
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