Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present today.
First, I rise to present the following petition. The petitioners state that it is unacceptable for Canadians to choose medical assistance in dying due to a lack of available services or treatments. This is not a real choice. They point out that allowing MAID for people with disabilities or chronic non-terminal illnesses devalues their lives. It sends the dangerous message that life with a disability is optional.
A recent article in Le Soleil told the disturbing story of a sick man who was basically advised by a social worker to give up the fight and choose death. That is not compassion. It is a betrayal of our duty to protect human dignity.
The petitioners are therefore calling upon the Government of Canada to protect all Canadians whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable by prohibiting MAID for people whose prognosis is more than six months. Offering death is not true compassion. True compassion is offering support, listening and hope.