I call the meeting to order
Welcome to meeting No. 26 of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying.
I'd like to welcome members of the committee, witnesses, and those watching this meeting on the web.
My name is Marc Garneau, and I am the House of Commons joint chair of this committee.
I am joined by the Honourable Yonah Martin, the Senate's joint chair.
Today we are continuing our statutory review of the provisions of the Criminal Code related to medical assistance in dying and their application.
I have a few administrative points to make. I'd like to remind members and witnesses to keep their microphones muted unless recognized by name by one of the joint chairs.
I will also remind you that all comments should be addressed through the joint chairs.
When speaking, please speak slowly and clearly for the benefit of the interpreters.
Interpretation services are available for people participating in the meeting both by videoconference and in person. People participating remotely have the choice, at the bottom of their screen, between floor, English and French.
With that, I would like to welcome our witnesses for panel one, who are here to discuss mature minors.
As individuals, we have present with us Dr. Dawn Davies, pediatric palliative care physician, and, appearing remotely, Cheryl Milne, executive director of the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights. As well, from The Hospital for Sick Children, we have Randi Zlotnik Shaul, director of the department of bioethics.
Thank you, all three of you, for joining us tonight.
We'll begin with opening remarks, followed by questions for the panellists. These are five-minute opening remarks, and I'd like to start with Dr. Davies.
Dr. Davies, if you're ready, you have five minutes for your opening remarks.