Bill C407 has received its first hour of debate on October 31st and the second reading is scheduled near or at the end of November.

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Euthanasia/assisted suicide bill proceeding, although introduced by a Bloc MP.

In one way we were very fortunate that the House of commons recessed for the summer afer the passing of Bill C38 late in the evening on June 28. If it had not, Bill C-407 a private members bill could have passed on second reading. In mid-June, Bloc MP Francine Lalonde's bill that would legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada, passed first reading.

Jean Echlin, vice-president of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and a palliative care nurse, warned, "this bill introduces the slippery slope we've seen in the Netherlands where people who don't want to be euthanized are ... Canadians have to wake up because it's coming." The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is urging Canadians to vocally oppose this legislation. It is very rare that a private members' bills get passed but the Martin Chretien Liberals are not above allowing such legislation to pass to get what they want without paying a political price. Remember how easily Svend Robinsons' bill amendment to the hate crimes legislation to include special rights for homosexuals passed in 2004? Recall, also, that last November Justice Minister Irwin Cotler mused that it was time for a national debate on the issue of euthanasia.

We oppose this bill and believe that the priority for end-of-life care issues that interest Canadians so much now, should be the provision of proper palliatvie care. As Echlin said in a speech to the Kiwanis Club in London, Ont., now is not the time to introduce assisted suicide legislation, as palliative care is just "coming into its own" as a system of medicine, and it s not necessary for chronically ill or terminall ill patients to suffer pain. Fear of pain is a common reason for both Canadians and patients to support assisted suicide. AS Echlin explained, "Of course, when a person's in paint that isn't properly managed, they're going to ask for euthansia. There is absolutely no excuse in 2005 for a person to face the end of life with pain when so much can be done now to relieve that pain."

The EPC warns that C-407 "seeks to allow euthanasia for individuals who 'appear to be lucid,' and who request assisted suicide twice with at least a 10 day period between each request." They ask, what does it mean that one must 'appear to be lucid'. They warn that the bill if (sic) of loopholes, loopholes that will lead to abuse, including eliminating protections that rpevent the indiscriminate killing of those who may not want to die. EPC executive Director Alex Schadenberg said "the bill would legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide for people who suffer chronic physical and mental pain that is treatable." Once society allows euthanasia and assisted suicide, it will soon become impossible to protect anyone who is viewed as a "burden" on society. This is a devastating assault on human dignity that absolutely must be defeated.

CLC National News, August 2005