I'm certainly happy to work with others, but as you know my status here is unwilling participant in committee because I wanted my rights as they exist under report stage, and one of the disadvantages that I have under the conditions created by the motion passed by this committee is that I can't amend my motions at the table. I can't participate in the same way. However, I'm more than flexible in real life despite the restrictions put on me by the motion that this committee was forced to pass by who knows who.
The motion I'm putting forward, as has been noted, is very similar to Mr. Fraser's and Mr. Viersen's motions and it's about something that a number of witnesses brought up.
Proposed subsection 241.2(4) contains the heading “unable to sign”. So if the person requesting medical assistance in dying is unable to sign and date their request, another person, who is at least 18 years of age and who understands the nature of the request for medical assistance in dying, may do so. The way it currently reads is “in the person's presence on their behalf”. My amendment says “may do so in the person's presence under their direction”. The Liberal amendment is “may do so in the person's presence on their behalf, but only at the express direction of that person” and Mr. Viersen's amendment is “at any time, withdraw their request”.
So they're similar, but the intent is virtually identical between Mr. Fraser's and mine. I provided a summary for them. The rationale is clear that we want to have that assurance that if someone is unable to sign, the person who does so on their behalf has done so under their direction.