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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 159

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 13, 2023 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 159 - Feb/13/23
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)
  • Feb/13/23 7:29:28 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-39 
Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, for many years, in a substantial way, we have had legislation dealing with the issue. It stems from a Supreme Court decision. The member has made reference to that. There has been a great deal of dialogue over the last half a dozen years in regard to what we are actually debating today. We have a standing committee that has been overseeing it as of late. We have some deadlines. I think the legislation allows for more discussion by having the extension. One of the things lost in the debate is the issue of situations where, because of the supports that are there when someone is looking for medical assistance in dying, they get some sort of treatment that ultimately takes them off the thought of having medical assistance in dying. Could my colleague provide his thoughts on the medical professionals and others who are out there who are, in fact, providing a service that has been deemed by the Supreme Court as something that is necessary? How we define that is really what we are talking about.
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Context: House Hansard - 159 - Feb/13/23
Mr. Charlie Angus
  • Feb/13/23 7:38:21 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-39 
Mr. Speaker, far be it from me to provide medical advice to anybody. I warn people back home to not ever take medical advice from a politician; that is not what we do, but I think what we look at in our job is to make sure people have access to housing. Our job is to make sure that, if people are on the streets, they can get mental health supports. My brother is a subway driver, and he has seen the impacts of the pandemic and mental health crisis in real time in Toronto with the rising violence. We can talk all we want about getting tough on violence, but it is our job as politicians to put in place the supports. For people who are chronically depressed and people with mental illness, our job is to make sure there are places they can receive treatment. Then I think the vast majority of cases of what we are talking about and debating tonight would not be necessary, and it would be reserved for those who are suffering from illnesses, and they have a right to die in dignity.
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