I support this amendment.
The Supreme Court of Canada in the Carter decision contemplated a carefully designed and monitored system of safeguards. Bill C-7 removes one of the key safeguards provided for in Bill C-14, Parliament's response to the Carter decision, and that is a reflection period.
If you look at the legislation as it is currently drafted, it could provide a scenario where there is same-day death and there is virtually no reflection. It is important to note that people do change their minds. Indeed, in the Truchon decision, evidence before the Quebec Superior Court indicated that in the province of Quebec, between December 2015 and March 2018, some 167 written requests were made and subsequently withdrawn by patients, because they had changed their minds. That equals approximately 7% of all MAID requests in the province of Quebec.
I believe this data underscores the need for a reflection period.
With the issue surrounding the loss of capacity, this is already addressed in the existing legislation, in Bill C-14, whereby that period can be shortened where necessary, but that should be limited. It should be the exception; it should not be the rule.