Madam Speaker, it is always an honour and a pleasure to speak in the House and to have the privilege of doing so. It is extraordinary. Every time I have the opportunity to speak, I am extremely grateful to my constituents.
We are talking about medical assistance in dying, which is an issue that I am very familiar with because, in another life and in another Parliament, I had the opportunity to reflect on it in a non-partisan way. Quite honestly, it was a very important moment, if not the most important moment, of my political career in the Quebec legislature.
I listened to the member for Montcalm's speech. I am not trying to take away from what he is doing or saying. I am not trying to take away from all of the hard work, to use a Liberal expression, that he has put into the issue of medical assistance in dying. However, what I will not accept this morning is parliamentarians being insulted with regard to this issue.
I am a Conservative well known in Quebec for my position on medical assistance in dying. My Conservative colleagues know that. Everyone knows that. It is no secret. However, we should not be told that we lack courage or compassion just because we are not like him or because some people in the House do not think like him. That is not the way to convince all parliamentarians and political parties to move forward on this issue.
I am sorry, but in my personal and professional experience as an MNA and minister in Quebec, that is not how things were done. That is not how the commissions in Quebec City were run. It worked across party lines. People discussed things together. I never heard any insults.
It is true that, as of yesterday, advance requests are allowed in Quebec. If it was so important to the member for Montcalm and the Bloc Québécois, why did the leader of the Bloc Québécois not use the leverage he had when he held the balance of power? When the NDP tore up its agreement, why did the Bloc Québécois not use Bill C‑390 as a bargaining chip with the Liberals to keep them in power? Is this true or false?
Today, the hon. member rose in the House. I know he is sincere in what he is doing. I know him. I sat with him in Quebec City. I am wondering why he is the one rising on this issue and not the hon. member for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, since it is her bill. However, that is another matter. It is a pity because we would have liked to hear from Ms. Bérubé on this issue—