Thank you, Chair.
Minister, we're here today because two years ago, you made a mistake that was offside with your caucus. We know that you voted against the first MAID bill because you didn't think it went far enough. That made you an outlier in your caucus. You came to this committee and said that Bill C-7, an act to amend the Criminal Code for MAID, was constitutional.
The unelected Senate amended it dramatically and created a brand new bill, I would argue, saying that those who are suffering from mental illness would be eligible for MAID. This extension is evidence that you got it wrong two years ago.
I know you're a professor, but you're not the only professor. I have a letter here, signed by 32 law professors, which says:
We disagree as law professors that providing access to MAiD for persons whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness is constitutionally required, and that Carter v Canada AG created or confirmed a constitutional right to suicide, as Minister Lametti has repeatedly stated. Our Supreme Court has never confirmed that there is a broad constitutional right to obtain help with suicide via health-care provider ending-of-life.
Minister, quickly, who is right? Is it you or these 32 law professors?