Lawrence MacAulay on Questions on the Order Paper

In the House of Commons on November 14th, 2022. See this statement in context.

Question No.798—Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

November 14th, 2022 / 3:25 p.m.

Cardigan P.E.I.

Liberal

Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, as directed by the Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada is conducting a thorough internal investigation on what occurred in August 2022 regarding Veterans Affairs Canada and medical assistance in dying, or MAID. This occurrence is isolated to a single employee and is not indicative of a pattern of behaviour or a systemic issue.

Veterans Affairs Canada issued a directive to staff on this issue after what occurred in August 2022 regarding MAID.

Veterans Affairs Canada employees are not mandated to discuss, provide advice or suggest to veterans anything on the issue of MAID. This service is not within Veterans Affairs Canada’s scope of work. Veterans Affairs Canada’s direction to its employees is that, if a veteran is seeking advice or assistance in pursing MAID, the employee must refer the veteran to their primary care provider.

See context to find out what was said next.