432-00647 (Justice)
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the House of Commons
We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:
Whereas Bill C-7 further removes safeguards from the current euthanasia regime, including the mandatory 10-day reflection period and the number of required witnesses, thereby allowing a person's euthanasia request to be accepted and carried out within the same day and without robust consultation; and;
Whereas the removal of the second required independent witness reduces oversight of the procedure, thereby leaving vulnerable persons at risk of abuse; and;
Whereas the Canadian Government has an obligation to protect its citizens, especially those who are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation;
Therefore we, the undersigned, urge the House of Commons to immediately discontinue the removal of safeguards for people requesting euthanasia, and put in place additional measures to protect vulnerable persons.
Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable David Lametti
On March 17, 2021, Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), received Royal Assent. Bill C-7 responds to the September 2019 Superior Court of Quebec ruling in Truchon,which struck down the eligibility criterion of “reasonably foreseeable natural death” from the Criminal Code medical assistance in dying regime.
Bill C-7 amended the Criminal Code to ensure consistency of the medical assistance in dying law across the country. The reasonably foreseeable natural death criterion no longer applies as an eligibility criterion that could exclude persons from obtaining medical assistance in dying, but is instead used to determine which of two different sets of safeguards applies to a particular medical assistance in dying request.
The first set of safeguards applies to persons whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable, where risks are reduced given the overall proximity of death and the fact that their suffering is most likely linked to the dying process itself. The removal of the requirement of a second independent witness and the repeal of the 10-day reflection period responds to the concerns raised by healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to the effect that: finding two independent witnesses is a challenge for many patients and poses an access barrier to medical assistance in dying; and, the 10-day reflection period prolongs patient suffering unduly, as persons who request medical assistance in dying do so after careful consideration.
The second set of safeguards reflects the more serious consequences of error for persons who request medical assistance in dying and whose death is not reasonably foreseeable. It recognizes the diverse sources of suffering and vulnerability that could potentially lead a person whose death is not reasonably foreseeable to request medical assistance in dying. The new safeguards for this group include a minimum 90-day assessment period, a requirement that an expert be consulted if neither of the two practitioners assessing eligibility has the required expertise, and clarifications related to informed consent.
The Bill C-7 amendments were informed by consultations with Canadians, the provinces and territories, Indigenous groups, key stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. They support greater autonomy and freedom of choice for eligible persons, and provides appropriate safeguards to protect those who may be vulnerable.
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
Garnett Genuis
(Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan)
March 10, 2021 (Petition No. 432-00647) - Government response tabled
- April 23, 2021
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.
Petitions identical to 432-00647 (Justice)
Identical Petition | Presenter | Date of Presentation | Signatures |
---|---|---|---|
432-00647 | Garnett Genuis | March 10, 2021 | 29 |
432-00570 | Garnett Genuis | February 25, 2021 | 38 |
432-00405 | Brad Vis | December 9, 2020 | 39 |
432-00397 | Damien C. Kurek | December 9, 2020 | 45 |
432-00387 | Brad Redekopp | December 9, 2020 | 35 |
432-00286 | Rachael Thomas | November 24, 2020 | 32 |
432-00284 | John Williamson | November 24, 2020 | 32 |
432-00283 | Cathy McLeod | November 24, 2020 | 25 |
432-00280 | Karen Vecchio | November 24, 2020 | 33 |
432-00277 | Glen Motz | November 24, 2020 | 33 |
432-00274 | Garnett Genuis | November 24, 2020 | 35 |
432-00209 | Garnett Genuis | November 4, 2020 | 37 |
432-00197 | Garnett Genuis | November 2, 2020 | 35 |
432-00154 | Garnett Genuis | October 26, 2020 | 25 |
432-00095 | Garnett Genuis | October 8, 2020 | 30 |
432-00088 | Arnold Viersen | October 8, 2020 | 34 |
432-00059 | Garnett Genuis | October 5, 2020 | 33 |
432-00003 | Garnett Genuis | September 24, 2020 | 28 |
431-00292 | Garnett Genuis | June 18, 2020 | 34 |
431-00265 | Garnett Genuis | June 16, 2020 | 30 |
431-00260 | Garnett Genuis | June 15, 2020 | 35 |
431-00240 | Tamara Jansen | June 8, 2020 | 35 |
431-00226 | Arnold Viersen | June 2, 2020 | 35 |
431-00223 | Arnold Viersen | June 1, 2020 | 38 |
431-00219 | Garnett Genuis | May 28, 2020 | 40 |
431-00217 | Garnett Genuis | May 27, 2020 | 35 |
431-00201 | Garnett Genuis | May 20, 2020 | 34 |
431-00195 | Garnett Genuis | May 19, 2020 | 31 |
431-00175 | Garnett Genuis | May 7, 2020 | 33 |
431-00165 | Garnett Genuis | May 5, 2020 | 33 |
Total signatures | 1011 |