With regard to the provisions here that deal with the fundamental essentials of the bill, this was a response to the Carter decision on particular facts of the cases before the court at that time. It's up to Parliament. In fact, the decision anticipated, of course, that Parliament would draft a bill that would respond to Carter that would be able to perhaps define things such as “grievous and irremediable”. I believe it's up to us as parliamentarians to do our best to craft a bill that responds to the Carter decision and also takes into account other cases that will be across the country.
I believe that the bill strikes the right balance. This amendment would clearly go against the essential elements of the purpose of “grievous and irremediable” being attempted to be defined in the bill, and I believe it complies with Carter. I also believe the evidence we heard from Professor Dianne Pothier, for example, that clearly states that it's up to Parliament. Parliament has the ability to do this, and I believe it's in keeping with the spirit of that evidence before our committee that I'll be voting against this amendment.