Good morning. Welcome to meeting No. 23 of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying. I would like to begin by welcoming members of the committee as well as the witnesses and those watching this meeting on the web.
My name is Marc Garneau. I am the House of Commons joint chair of this committee. I'm joined this morning by the Honourable Marie-Françoise Mégie, the Senate's vice-chair.
Today we are continuing our examination of the statutory review of the provisions of the Criminal Code relating to medical assistance in dying and their application.
I have just a few administrative remarks.
I'd like to remind members and witnesses to keep their microphones muted unless recognized by name by one of the joint chairs. As a reminder, all comments should be addressed through the joint chairs. When speaking, please speak slowly and clearly. This is important for the interpreters. Interpretation in this video conference will work as in an in-person committee meeting. You have the choice, at the bottom of your screen, under the globe, where it says “interpretation”, of floor, English or French.
With that, I would like to welcome our witnesses for panel one, who are here to discuss advance requests.
We have Dr. Alice Maria Chung, who is a clinical associate professor, by video conference.
We have with us Dr. Judes Poirier, full professor of medicine and psychiatry at the Centre for Studies in the Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease at McGill University. He will be participating in the meeting by videoconference.
We have Dr. Ross Upshur, professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the department of family and community medicine of the University of Toronto, also by video conference.
Thank you all for joining us.
We'll begin with opening remarks by Dr. Chung, followed by Dr. Poirier, and then Dr. Upshur.
Dr. Chung, you have five minutes. The floor is yours.