Toronto, ON October 18, 2023 – The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) is saddened by the defeat at second reading of Bill C-314 by a vote of 167 – 150.
The bill sponsored by MP Ed Fast would have eliminated the threatened provision to allow mental health as a sole reason to be eligible for euthanasia under the so-called Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) regime. Instead, the euthanasia regime, which should be properly understood as Physician Assisted Killing, will be made available as of March 17, 2024, in the absence of any further legal developments.
Of interest, the bill received support from 24 NDP members and 8 Liberals, but the remaining Liberal and Bloc Quebecois MPs were sufficient to ensure defeat.
Canadians do not agree that physician assisted death should be made generally available. A May 2023 poll by Angus Reid found that just 28 percent of Canadians favoured expanding the country’s MAID laws to the mentally ill. Various Canadian psychiatry schools and psychiatric organizations have opposed the law’s expansion.
The CCRL continues to advocate for properly available mental health supports, and in particular, enhanced palliative care, which remains woefully inadequate despite broad public support for such expansions.
The League urges Canadians to continue to assert their opposition to the proposed expansion of the law to allow for mental health as a basis for one’s death. We also remain particularly concerned of the impact on health care professionals, and medical students, who will face increasing pressure on the delivery of death in response to the need for care.
We appeal to any of you who are able to send a donation to the CCRL by clicking here or by mailing a cheque to the CCRL at 2305 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M6S 1P1, or by calling the office at (416) 466-8244 or 1-844-722-CCRL.
About the CCRL
Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) (www.ccrl.ca) assists in creating conditions within which Catholic teachings can be better understood, cooperates with other organizations in defending civil rights in Canada, and opposes defamation and discrimination against Catholics on the basis of their beliefs. The CCRL was founded in 1985 as an independent lay organization with a large nationwide membership base. The CCRL is a Canadian non-profit organization entirely supported by the generosity of its members.
To donate to the CCRL, please click here.
For further information:
Contact the CCRL
416-466-8244
@CCRLtweets