Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke for his comments today, his work on the justice committee, his support for this legislation and also for underscoring the important role that the litigants have played in the evolution of this.
I would highlight the theme that the member raised when he talked about the sanctity of life. It is quite clear for those who have read the jurisprudence, and I know that he has, that in both the Carter and Truchon decisions the courts talked about the notion that the charter protection of the right to life under section 7 means that when people are prematurely considering availing themselves of medical assistance in dying because they worry about being able to give that final consent and having the capacity to give that final consent, when they take their lives prematurely, it actually violates their charter rights. This was outlined in both the Carter and Truchon cases.
I wonder if the member opposite could comment on that aspect of the decision, because it is very important in terms of the protection of the vulnerable, which is one of the things the legislation is attempting to address.