First, I would say, as the two ministers indicated, that the government has very much acknowledged that protection of conscience rights is an important consideration in moving forward with this. Also the Supreme Court of Canada obviously acknowledged that among the various rights and interests to be balanced, the conscience rights of physicians and medical practitioners are an important consideration. As the two ministers indicated previously, nothing in the bill compels or in that sense coerces a medical practitioner to be involved in this. The government has announced, and Minister Philpott confirmed today, the intention to continue discussions with provinces and territories about ways in which access to care can be facilitated and information can be provided, and that will be one element of a discussion around the ways in which conscience rights can be protected. Mr. Kennedy and others can speak to this if you wish
Although the Supreme Court has acknowledged that health care is a concurrent jurisdiction, what's under discussion is an exercise of the criminal law power by the federal Parliament. This bill is not about regulating medical or health professionals or institutions. This is about an exemption that is being created in the criminal law, which has been a focus of attention in response to the way the case was framed in the Carter decision and the way the case has been brought before Canadians, going back to the Rodriguez case. In all of that, the consideration was the focus of the bill. The way in which the bill is constructed, it's designed not to require or compel any medical practitioner, doctor, or nurse practitioner to be involved in this, and as Minister Philpott indicated previously, the government's commitment is to continue those discussions with provinces and territories to try to “find pathways to care.” I think that's the expression.
I hope that responds to the question.