Thank you, Madam Chair.
I know that this amendment arose from concerns in the disability community, and I have had many discussions with members of the disability community locally, provincially and nationally on this amendment in particular. It is a very broad amendment. While it arises from the disability community, it would apply to any and all marginalized communities. It is not exclusive to the disability community.
I think what this amendment inadvertently does, in the broad way it's stated, is potentially deny autonomy to others to make decisions about the end of their life.
While I absolutely believe we have to have further discussion of the very valid concerns of the disability community and our large failures to provide supports to that community—as I've said many times, I believe that needs to go on in a special committee of the House to examine those broader issues—I think this amendment inadvertently, in modifying the tests to receive medical assistance in dying, is unconstitutional and would be ruled so by the courts because of its very broad impact on members of groups other than those with disabilities.
In the end, I think it also inadvertently denies autonomy to people with disabilities. We must endeavour to make sure that the choices they have before them are real and that they receive a quality of support to lead a good life. In the end, however, I believe this amendment would affect the autonomy of both disabled people and other marginalized people in our society to make decisions about how their life ends—not about ending their life, but about how it ends—and for that reason I am opposed to this amendment.