Ontario premier conflicted on assisted suicide, supports national debate
Posted September 26, 2013 2:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said there’s going to be a national debate about whether assisted suicide should be legalized, whether the federal government wants one or not.
Wynne said the late Dr. Donald Low’s video pleading for Canada to do a better job in dealing with end of life issues has sparked debate on a topic on the minds of many.
The premier said she personally is conflicted on euthanasia and assisted suicide, and says she suspects most other Canadians are as well.
Federal Justice Minister Peter MacKay said the Conservative government has “no desire” to introduce legislation that would open up the issue for debate.
However, Wynne said the federal government can’t ignore the fact the people are talking about what she calls a very challenging ethical issue, in part because of Dr. Low’s video pleading with opponents of assisted suicide to reconsider.
Wynne said people want more control over end-of-life issues and the country needs to engage in a debate to see if the law banning assisted suicide should be changed.
The Quebec government is already holding public hearings on its legislation which would outline the conditions necessary for someone to get medical assistance to die. However, Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews says it’s up to the federal government to decide whether it should legalize assisted suicide.
Low, who guided Toronto through the 2003 SARS crisis, urged Canada to allow people to die with dignity in a video taped just eight days before he died from a brain tumour last week at age 68.
