Anti-euthanasia group vows to keep fighting Trudeau government's plan to include mentally ill people in ASSISTED SUICIDE program

By lauraharris // 2024-02-19

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The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) has decided to reschedule its planned rally against the federal government after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau postponed the expansion of its assisted suicide program to the mentally ill. But the fight continues. Canadian Health Minister Mark Holland announced on Jan. 29 that Ottawa will be postponing its plan to include the mentally ill people in the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program. According to Holland, the postponement sought to ensure the system is adequately prepared. (Related: Insanity: Canadian woman seeking help for suicidal thoughts receives suggestion to commit ASSISTED SUICIDE.) "We agree with the conclusion that the committee has come to: That the system is not ready and more time is required," he said. Holland didn't give an exact time frame, but he assured the media that the expansion would happen. He confirmed that they still plan to proceed with MAiD for mental illness, but "those individuals are [going to] have to wait a little longer." As a response, the EPC – a staunch advocate for the prevention of euthanasia – has moved its rally and press conference to Feb. 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Parliament Hill. The rally, originally slated on Feb. 6, seeks to bring attention to the ethical and moral concerns surrounding medical assistance for those dying of mental illness. The organization has arranged a series of speeches starting at 11 a.m., with notable speakers including EPC Executive Director Alex Schadenberg, human rights lawyer Lia Milousis and outspoken family physician Dr. Paul Saba. The EPC also disclosed that additional speakers are to be announced in the coming days. Several Members of Parliament (MPs) and other key figures are expected to join the event. The EPC then invited the public and the media to participate in the event, urging citizens to join their advocacy. "The EPC is thankful that the federal government is delaying the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness but we will continue to demand that the government change direction and completely stop the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness," Schadenberg wrote.

Conservative MPs and advocacy organizations oppose MAiD expansion

Since the Canadian government announced its plan to expand MAiD, MPs and advocacy organizations in Canada have been consistently mobilizing their efforts to block the extension of euthanasia to mentally ill people. For instance, Conservative MP Ed Fast submitted Bill C-314, titled "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)," to curtail the broadening scope of MAiD. During the second reading of Bill C-314 on May 17, 2023, in the Canadian House of Commons, Fast voiced concerns about the intentions to expand MAiD, particularly for those with mental health problems. Fast argued that the proposed expansion would encompass "more and more defenseless Canadians, most particularly those living with disabilities." "What is equally disturbing is that the Liberal government has also signaled its intention to extend the so-called 'treatment option' to minor children. That would arguably make Canada the most expansive, most liberal assisted suicide jurisdiction in the world," said Fast. Fast argued that his bill seeks to reverse the expansion of MAID and specifically prevent its extension to individuals with mental illnesses. "Canadians have a right to conclude that the Liberal government has gone too far and too fast in its zeal to implement and expand the scope of assisted death. My bill will reverse this momentum and repeal the government's decision to extend MAID to the mentally ill. It will put a full stop to the expansion of assisted suicide to mentally disordered persons," the Conservative MP said at the time. Visit Euthanasia.news for more stories related to Canada's medical assistance in dying program. Watch the video below that talks about assisted suicide. This video is from the CHP Canada channel on Brighteon.com.

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Conservative MPs and advocacy organizations oppose MAiD expansion

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