Rocky View County residents were given the opportunity to provide input on the upcoming physician-assisted dying legislation at an open house on March 29 in Redwood Meadows with John Barlow, Member of Parliament for Foothills.
“The Supreme Court made a decision last year and asked Parliament to develop legislation to legalize physician-assisted death in Canada,” Barlow said. “Previously, it was not legal, so we needed to come up with all new legislation to address it.”
According to Barlow, Parliament has received extensions over the past year and a half to work on the legislation, but the June deadline is fast approaching.
A report was released in February from a designated committee, which Barlow said will provide a guideline or framework for the development of the legislation itself.
“Based on some of the recommendations I’ve seen in the report, it looks like the potential legislation could be much broader than I think most Canadians would like,” he said. “I think that while most Canadians are willing to accept physician-assisted dying, they want to ensure there are very strict guidelines and rules in place to make sure this isn’t abused.”
Some of the safeguards Barlow said are “lacking” in the report include regulations to ensure the patient is making decisions with a sound mind and that the physician conducting the procedure is supportive of the patient’s decision.
“I want to make sure residents have the opportunity to speak to this,” Barlow said. “Since we haven’t had legal doctor-assisted death in the past, it’s something people are going to be very passionate about. Whether we like it or not, it’s going to be legal, but we do have an opportunity to work out what that legislation is actually going to look like.”
According to Barlow, the Conservative caucus has been “adamant” there will be a free vote on this piece of legislation, so he plans to vote “based on how (his) residents want (him) to vote.”
“That’s why it’s so important for me to host these open houses and talk to people, because I want that direction,” he said. “This is such a compassionate issue for Canadians, and I really want to make sure that everyone has their say. It’s a controversial subject, and it needs to represent how we feel as Canadians.”
Further open houses will be held in Claresholm, Okotoks and Pincher Creek. The report is available on the Parliament of Canada’s website at parl.gc.ca
