Bill C-218

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to provide that a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition for which a person could receive medical assistance in dying.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Jamil Jivani, Conservative, Bowmanville—Oshawa North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition in support of Conservative bill, Bill C-218, also known as the right to recover act.

Canadians are rightly concerned about the Liberal government's plans to expand euthanasia to people whose only medical condition is a mental illness. With this petition, they are urging the government to change course, to not expand euthanasia to even more people and, instead, turn to offering more services and more accessible health care.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present on behalf of my constituents is regarding Bill C-218 and MAID. My constituents are deeply concerned about the proposed expansion of medical assistance in dying to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness.

Petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to support Bill C-218 and halt the expansion of MAID for people with only mental illness as their underlying condition.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise, as it always is, on behalf of the wonderful individuals and parishioners of St. Margaret's Parish in Midland, Ontario, many of whom I hold dearly. These petitioners are concerned with the expansion of medical assistance in dying to those whose sole underlying illness is mental illness. They are encouraging the government and Canadians to support those living with mental illness with supports as opposed to offering them MAID and encourage all legislators in the House and the government to support Bill C-218.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I am presenting today is signed by Canadians who are deeply concerned about the Liberal government's planned expansion of medical assistance in dying to persons whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

The petitioners call on the government to support the right to recover act, Bill C-218, and halt this dangerous expansion. Hope is always possible and that is why we are urging Parliament to prioritize suicide prevention and improve access to mental health supports for vulnerable Canadians.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present the first petition from residents of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, a community I am very honoured to represent and live in. The petitioners are calling upon the House of Commons to support Bill C-218, to exclude mental illness or disorder from MAID, and to invest resources into mental health services.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present on behalf of my constituents from Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge and Mission.

The first one regards Bill C-218. The petitioners state that Canadians with mental illness should be provided with treatment and support. They state that mental illness is complex and includes suicidal thoughts as a symptom. The lives of Canadians with mental illness will be at risk when they are eligible for medical assistance in dying on the basis of mental illness alone, especially when treatment and support are not readily available.

[Jim Belanger, Conservative, Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is in support of my colleague from Cloverdale—Langley City's private member's bill, Bill C-218.

The petitioners urge the government to support this bill, which would reverse the expansion of medical assistance in dying eligibility to individuals whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness and, instead, prioritize access to appropriate treatment, care and mental health supports.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from dozens of Canadians who are concerned about mental illness and recognize that mental illness is a serious and real illness, but who are calling on the House to support Bill C-218, which would reverse the law extending eligibility for MAID to people with mental illness as their sole underlying medical condition. They believe that mental illness should be treated and not given a death sentence.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by Nipissing—Timiskaming residents who wish to draw the attention of the House to Bill C-218. The petitioners express concern regarding proposed amendments that may affect eligibility criteria and existing safeguards as they relate to the protection of vulnerable persons, particularly those suffering from mental illnesses.

Accordingly, the petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to uphold strong safeguards, ensure continued parliamentary review and approach any legislative changes to medical assistance in dying with caution, transparency and respect for charter principles as they address matters involving end-of-life decision-making.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, in the petition I am presenting today, petitioners are recognizing that the Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying to individuals whose only medical condition is mental illness. Mental illness is treatable, recovery is possible and experts agree that it is currently impossible to predict when a mental illness is truly irremediable.

Expanding MAID in this way risks suggesting that some lives are beyond saving, while many Canadians still struggle to access timely and effective mental health care. The petitioners say that families and communities are concerned that people who would recover through treatment and support may instead lose their life, and they are asking the Government of Canada to pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

I support the petitioners.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present this petition on behalf of my constituents calling on the government to support Bill C-218. The petitioners write that Canadians with mental illnesses should be provided with treatment and support, that mental illness is complex and can include suicidal thoughts as symptoms, and that the lives of Canadians with mental illnesses will be at risk when they are eligible for medical assistance in dying on the basis of mental illness alone, especially when treatment and support are not readily available.

Therefore, the petitioners call on the House of Commons to support Bill C-218, which would reverse the law extending eligibility for MAID to people with a mental illness as their sole medical condition.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of individuals who also support the member for Cloverdale—Langley City's bill, Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code with respect to medical assistance in dying.

They understand that the Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying, or MAID, to individuals whose only medical condition is mental illness. Mental illness, they say, is treatable; recovery is possible, and experts agree that it is currently impossible to predict when a mental illness is truly irremediable. They are calling on the government on behalf of families and communities who are concerned that people who could recover through treatment and support may instead lose their lives.

Bill C-218, the right to recover act, would amend the Criminal Code to ensure that mental illness alone is not considered a grievous and irremediable condition for the purpose of MAID. Therefore, they, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to those whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to table a petition on behalf of constituents in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford who are deeply concerned about the proposed expansion of medical assistance in dying to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. My constituents fear that expanding MAID in this way risks normalizing suicide as a response to mental illness. They believe instead that Canada should prioritize and strengthen mental health supports for those who are suffering. They therefore call on the government to support Bill C-218 and halt the expansion of MAID to those with a mental illness.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my first petition is in support of the member for Cloverdale—Langley City's private member's bill, Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding medical assistance in dying.

These individuals say that the Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying to individuals whose only medical condition is a mental illness. The petitioners say mental illness is treatable, recovery is possible and experts agree that it is currently impossible to predict when a mental illness is truly irremediable. They have brought forward other issues as well. All this supports the request that the Government of Canada pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to those whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.

[Dan Muys, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is also from residents of Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North in support of Bill C-218. These Canadians want people who have conditions of mental illness provided with proper treatment and not offered assisted suicide. They ask the House to support Bill C-218, which would do that.