Paul Tuns
A current Conservative MP and the leader of the People’s Party of Canada have both condemned Canada’s permissive euthanasia laws that are resulting in people who have treatable conditions but living in poverty being approved for so-called Medical Assistance in Dying.
Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis criticized Canada’s euthanasia regime as a money-saving measure the government is using to “rid society” of sick people. The Haldimand-Norfolk MP and former Conservative leadership contender tweeted Nov. 16 that “Medically Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is being used by the gov’t as social policy to save $ and rid society of people who the Liberals see as costly/undesirable.”
Lewis added, “MAiD has turned into a wicked and discriminatory policy to absolve the gov’t of its duty to protect the most vulnerable.”
Earlier last month, on Nov. 4, Lewis responded to media reports that a Canadian veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder was told by a Veteran Affairs caseworker that euthanasia was an option for him. She called the suggestion “shameful.”
Maxime Bernier, founder of the People’s Party of Canada, also spoke out against the medicalized killing of people living society’s fringes. He tweeted on Nov. 16 that “MAiD is out of control,” in response to a story about a disabled man who sought approval to be euthanized rather than continuing to live in poverty. Earlier this year, Bernier said that medical professionals offering euthanasia to the vulnerable should be held “criminally responsible” for their actions. He also criticized the Saskatchewan government’s plan to provide information about euthanasia on its automated healthcare phone line through the click of a button.
The critiques come as the media reports on numerous stories about people living in poverty seeking euthanasia not because they have a terminal illness or chronic medical condition, but because of their social circumstances. The law technically does permit social reasons for accessing Canada’s MAiD regime, but in most cases reported by journalist, desperate individuals were approved to be euthanized.
Even pro-abortion CPC leader Pierre Poilievre has spoken out against the nation’s euthanasia laws, rejecting the notion that the laws should be further expanded.
Meanwhile, Senator Pamela Wallin’s Bill S-248, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), is in its second reading and if passed, would allow Canadians to “consent” to be killed at a future date through so-called advanced directives, even if the person cannot consent by the time that date is reached. Alex Schadenberg said advanced directives are based on a person’s feeling about how they will feel in the future and could be used to override a decision not to be euthanized when physicians decide the person’s suffering (or cost) is too great.
The pro-life Delta Hospice Society is encouraging Canadians to protect themselves from euthanasia by signing have moved to protect themselves from assisted suicide by signing up for the group’s “Do Not Euthanize’ Advance Directive (DNE).”
