Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I have two questions for the hon. member. What does she say to her Conservative colleagues on the justice committee who unanimously voted for and negotiated and agreed with the wording contained in subclause (9) that, “nothing in this section compels an individual to provide or assist in providing medical assistance in dying.”

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, the member who proposed the motion was present at many of the hearings of the justice committee on this matter. The original draft of Bill C-14 did not have any reference to conscience rights, except in the preamble. Each party had a proposal to put wording around conscience rights, and quite frankly, it was Parliament at its best to see representatives of the Conservative Party, the New Democratic Party, and the Liberal Party huddle and come up with wording upon which they could all agree.

Physician-Assisted Dying  Mr. Speaker, yes, we did in fact hear evidence from representatives of the Barreau du Québec. However, we are very confident that the bill is consistent with the charter. The document we introduced in the House provides a detailed explanation of the measures we have taken, which are consistent with the charter.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the member about what he describes as an “artificial” deadline. The Supreme Court has imposed a deadline of June 6. This is a deadline that was imposed after we asked for a later deadline. On June 6, there will be serious ramifications if a law is not passed.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for a very thoughtful speech. Obviously we have come down on different sides of this issue, but certainly what he put into that speech is something that was clearly thought out and very well delivered and expressed. The member talked so passionately about the sanctity of life.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of questions for my colleague. First, he said if he were a doctor he would be worried because they are going to be forced to do something. I would ask him to point to the passage in the legislation that forces doctors to do anything. There is absolutely nothing there in that regard.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I always appreciate the thoughtful remarks from the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands. However, I want to push back a little on her suggestion that this is bound for unsuccessful litigation and ask her these three questions. Would she agree that the court in its decision did not define “grievous and irremediable”?

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the member for Yukon, for his remarks. Clearly, he has consulted widely through his community and through his riding. There are a couple of points arising, one is with respect to medical directives. There has been a lot of discussion around medical directives, but the international experience, certainly in the Netherlands, is that even where they are allowed, most of the time medical practitioners are reluctant to rely upon them; and so, we would be very much forging new ground in that regard in a very compressed timeframe.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, it is that very concern that was borne in mind when the decision was made to extend the exemption with respect to medical aid in dying to nurse practitioners. We see more and more in the country, with doctors being abundant in major centres and not so much outside of major centres, that much of the load has now fallen to nurse practitioners.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, clearly, the last two questions point out the unevenness of access to medical services right across the country. Today in Parliament we are debating an act to amend the Criminal Code. The government's response to the Carter decision was both legislative and non-legislative.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for St. John's East for the question and also that he used part of his constituency week to consult with his constituents. That is extremely important. It is something that I did as well. The government has clearly proceeded carefully. Given the compressed time frame that we were given by virtue of the inaction prior to the election and the deadline imposed by the Supreme Court, I believe that this is the prudent course.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to stand to speak in support of Bill C-14, a significant piece of legislation that would allow for the first time in Canadian history the provision of medical assistance in dying across the country. I believe Bill C-14 directly and thoughtfully responds to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Carter.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for her thoughtful speech and for her leadership on this extremely sensitive issue at an historic time for Canadians. Much of what falls within the health domain is within the jurisdiction of the provinces. There is no question that the provinces are looking to the federal government for leadership.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank and congratulate the minister on her speech and on her incredible leadership on a question that is so important in our country at this time. I have a couple of questions. In her speech, the minister talked about the fact that there were many influences on the decision that the government ultimately decided to take.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to private member's Bill C-242, an act to amend the Criminal Code, inflicting torture. I would like to begin by thanking the member for London North Centre for his advocacy on this very serious issue. We can all agree that torture and all forms of violence have no place in our society.