I will answer my distinguished colleague's question through you, Mr. Speaker. He is a lawyer so he knows what he is talking about when he says that this is a legal issue.
This issue falls under provincial jurisdiction. However, it is such an important one that we need to ensure that we have a consistent approach across the provinces.
If doctors' conscience is not protected in the legislation, some medical associations might challenge it, which will lead to variations from province to province. That will result in delays and the rise of health tourism, a term that horrifies me. For example, dissatisfied people in Alberta may go to Quebec, and dissatisfied people in Quebec may go to Newfoundland.
That could very well happen in this case. As the member so clearly stated, we are all gathered here because this issue relates to the Criminal Code. This issue sits at the very precarious junction where the Criminal Code meets health care delivery, an area of provincial jurisdiction.
I find it hard to imagine that one of the provinces would challenge this sort of law because this issue falls under its own jurisdiction. In the unlikely event that one of the provincial health ministers dared to do so, he would have to face the wrath of the people he represents.