Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a number of petitions.
First, I have a petition which is signed by residents of a number of communities in British Columbia, including the Fraser Valley. The petitioners draw the attention of the House to the fact that the current Criminal Code denies people who are suffering from terminal or irreversible debilitating illness the right to choose freely and voluntarily to end their lives with the assistance of a physician.
They therefore call upon Parliament to amend the Criminal Code to ensure the right of all Canadians to die with dignity by allowing people with terminal or irreversible and debilitating illness the right to the assistance of a physician in ending their lives at a time of their choice, subject to strict safeguards to prevent abuse and to ensure that the decision is free, informed, competent and voluntary.