Sure, I move CPC-5.
It's ironic to see members just now voting against the very safeguards that some of them voted for a few years ago. I'm profoundly impacted by that.
Anyway, in light of that decision by the committee to not have the 10-day reflection period any further, CPC-5 would amend Bill C-7 to include a seven-day reflection period. Recognizing, as has been said by some members, that they feel the 10-day reflection period is perhaps too much, in spite of the fact that the 10-day reflection period could be waived, this would insert a seven-day reflection period under the same proviso that it could be waived.
Having a reflection period, as I mentioned previously, is supported by the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians, and by other witnesses who appeared before this committee, including the Council of Canadians with Disabilities. They support having a reflection period. Other jurisdictions have a reflection period. Up until apparently just now, the Liberal government supported having a reflection period based on consultations they said they did on this legislation.
That there should be a reflection period in a life or death decision is abundantly clear to me. It's apparent from the vote we just had that the majority of members feel that a 10-day reflection period is too long. That's the 10-day reflection period that existed before, and that as I mentioned can be waived. In an effort to have some kind of reflection period, recognizing the fact that Mr. Cooper raised in his remarks that there are Canadians eligible for MAID who have said they wanted to receive assisted dying and then subsequent to that, during a period of reflection, decided not to proceed—literally a life or death decision—recognizing that fact, it's incumbent upon us to provide some measure of reflection. In cases where someone's death is imminent, this can be waived, but this says that due to the enormity of the decision being made, there be a period of reflection. If committee members feel that 10 days, as has existed for the last five years, is too long, then we are proposing that we have a reflection period of seven days. I think that's the least we can do.
I thank members for their consideration of amendment CPC-5, which would provide a seven-day reflection period before accessing MAID.
Thank you.