Evidence of meeting #50 for Justice and Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was illness.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
General Counsel and Director, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
I think that, if he were here, the minister would agree with you, Mr. Thériault.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Our special joint committee did release an interim report specifically on this subject. It was tabled last year. I'll just quote from our conclusions:
We must have standards of practice, clear guidelines, adequate training for practitioners, comprehensive patient assessments and meaningful oversight in place for the case of [medical assistance in dying where a mental disorder is the sole underlying medical condition]. This task will require the efforts and collaboration of regulators, professional associations, institutional committees and all levels of government and these actors need to be engaged and supported in this important work.
Although some work is already underway to implement the recommendations of the Expert panel, there is concern that more remains to be done to ensure that all necessary steps have been taken to be ready by the March 2023 deadline....
Now, you've expressed confidence—I was writing notes—that by next March the standards will be in place. I know that provincial governments and the regulatory bodies are already talking about this. I guess one question I have is this: In Health Canada's conversations with your provincial counterparts, do you expect that the provincial governments and the regulatory bodies, the professional associations, will 100% accept these, or do you expect that in some provinces there might be some variances here and there?
That's what I'm curious about. I mean, I expect that they all have very much a vested interest in the work that's been done so far. I know that a lot of very committed people are working on this. Do you get a sense that there might be the odd bit of variance, depending upon what province you're in?
And now they have an extra year to think about it.
Director General, Health Care Programs and Policy Directorate, Department of Health
That's a good point.
In a country with 13 different provinces and territories, I expect that there will be some variation, because they're very interested in the practice standards. We had an excellent response when they were sent out for consultation and feedback. Some of them have committed to adopting them wholesale, just taking them on.
I think others.... The expression we like to use is “adopt or adapt”. They will look at them, certainly. I think they will all look at them very carefully, see how they fit in with the processes they currently have and then adopt those that they feel will strengthen their current systems.
I think that's how the provinces and territories will probably look at them, but they are quite enthusiastic to see these and to be able to use them and bring them into their own systems.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
To be clear, in the Criminal Code the safeguards apply nationwide, of course, but we're talking more about the specific provincial jurisdiction they have in their regulatory bodies. Is that right?
Director General, Health Care Programs and Policy Directorate, Department of Health
Exactly. This is how they build their system in relation to the Criminal Code. The Criminal Code stays the same. They take medical practice and work with that and their jurisdictions around medical practice to make the system.... It's the implementation of it, if you will.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Thank you, Mr. MacGregor.
I want to thank Ms. Harper, Ms. Lawless, Mr. Taylor and Ms. Wills for attending this special meeting. I hope you all have a great evening.
February 14th, 2023 / 8:20 p.m.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Oh, yes.
Thank you, Ms. Klineberg and Ms. Lemaire. I'm sorry. I should have looked right in front of me.
Take care. The meeting is now adjourned.
