Ottawa gives final approval to assisted dying expansion
OTTAWA —
The House of Commons has given final approval to legislation that will expand access to assisted dying in Canada. Bill C-7 expands the criteria for accessing a medically assisted death to include people whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. The bill passed by a vote of 184 to 138 on Thursday. It now goes to the Senate for consideration. Justice Minister David Lametti said the bill strikes a balance between protecting the vulnerable and respecting individual autonomy. “This legislation is about providing Canadians with a choice at the end of their life,” Lametti said in a statement. “It is about giving them the right to make decisions about their own body and their own death.” The bill has been the subject of much debate and controversy since it was first introduced in February. Critics have argued that it goes too far and could lead to people being coerced into ending their lives. Supporters of the bill say it is a necessary step to ensure that Canadians have access to a safe and compassionate death. The bill includes a number of safeguards to protect the vulnerable, including a requirement that people seeking an assisted death must be of sound mind and have made a voluntary request. The bill also requires that two independent doctors must assess the person’s request and agree that they meet the criteria for an assisted death. The expansion of access to assisted dying is a significant change in Canadian law. It is the first time that people with a mental illness will be able to access an assisted death. The change comes after a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2019 that found that the existing law on assisted dying was unconstitutional. The court ruled that the law violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by discriminating against people with disabilities. The government introduced Bill C-7 in February 2021 in response to the Supreme Court ruling. The bill has been amended several times since it was first introduced. The final vote on the bill was held on Thursday. The bill passed by a vote of 184 to 138. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.LIVE: Question period in the House of Commons – CTV News Regina OTTAWA – Watch live as the House of Commons sits for question period. The daily question period gives opposition MPs an opportunity to grill the government on issues of the day. Monday’s session comes ahead of the release of the government’s fall economic update on Thursday.
