MP Warawa Concerned with Liberal Assisted Suicide Bill

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Ottawa, ON – Today, Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament for Langley—Aldergrove, outlined his concerns with the Government’s Bill C-14: Medical Assistance in Dying. 

“The Government’s bill on assisted suicide and euthanasia does not include the safeguards required by the Carter decision,” said Warawa.  “I am very concerned that there are serious gaps in the legislation and that it does not protect the conscience rights of health care professionals.”

“The priority of Parliament is to ensure that this legislation includes safeguards to protect the most vulnerable Canadians, and that the conscience rights of physicians and health professionals are protected,” continued Warawa. “I will continue to push for appropriate safeguards. It is imperative that this bill is written correctly.”

“I am also concerned that the Liberals broke a key election commitment to invest $3-billion in long-term care, including palliative care,” continued Warawa.  “Access to palliative care is an essential part of end-of-life care, which was promised but is not included in the Liberal’s 2016 Budget.”
 
“I am pleased that the Liberal Government listened to some of our recommendations in the Dissenting Report, which was attached to the Committee’s main report,” added the MP. “I call on the Government to have all of our recommendations included in the bill.”

“This is a sensitive issue with deeply held beliefs among Canadians,” said Warawa. “We call on all parties to have a free vote on this legislation.”   
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MP Warawa sat on the Special Joint Committee on Physician Assisted Dying, which was tasked with consulting with Canadians and providing recommendations for a legislative response to the Carter decision. MP Warawa joined his colleagues in presenting a Dissenting Report, which outlined how the Committee’s main report did reflect the safeguards outlined by the Carter decision. 

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