Mr. Speaker, I agree that it makes no sense to guarantee the right to medical assistance in dying without guaranteeing the right to receive optimal, high quality palliative care. Both options have to be on the table.
For example, someone who is diagnosed with advanced cancer could be offered medical assistance in dying. They know that option is on the table. However, palliative care might not be available in their region. They would have to relocate and spend their dying moments far from their family. They are not being offered a full choice. If we really want to be consistent in terms of what we are putting on the table, then both rights have to be guaranteed to end-of-life patients.