PM WARNS OF ‘UNEVEN ACCESS’

ASSISTED DEATH

LEE BERTHIAUME W IN N IPEG • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he remains “hopeful” the government’s proposed assisteddying law will be adopted by June 6, and warned that Canadians will face “uneven access” to doctor-assisted death if it isn’t.

“There will be people who by many objective criteria should have access to medical assistance in dying will not be able to because practitioners will be concerned there isn’t any legal framework or protection for them,” Trudeau told reporters Saturday.

“An d perhaps other people in different areas of the country who will have access to it when again according to fairly objective criteria, they should not have access to medical assistance in dying.”

The proposed law, Bill C-14, will be the first order of business when Members of Parliament return to Ottawa following a weeklong break Monday.

MPs will vote on C-14 on Monday and Tuesday, after which it will be passed to the Senate. The Red Chamber will then have one week to pass the bill if it is to make the Supreme Court’s June 6 deadline. Many observers, and even some senators, have said that will be nearly impossible.

Trudeau, who arrived from the G7 summit in Japan in time to participate in the last day of the Liberals’ three-day biennial convention, refused to concede defeat.

“I am still hopeful that we’re going to be able to reach the June 6 deadline imposed by the Supreme Court,” he said. “We’re certainly working hard toward that. And I have confidence that the more independent and thoughtful Senate is going to do right by the responsibilities that Canadians expect it to.”

Despite Trudeau’s confidence, no one knows what will happen when C-14 reaches the Senate. Trudeau two years ago severed ties with all Liberal senators, and has since appointed a number of independent senators. Those senators have promised to do their due diligence on the bill, which could tie it up for days or weeks.

Many Canadians have called on the government to take its time with C-14 and get the law right, rather than rush it through the legislative process. One of those is former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin, who on Thursday said Parliament should not be bound by “arbitrary deadlines.”

The Supreme Court has ruled that existing laws against physician-assisted dying will cease to be valid on June 6. Those who want more time to debate C-14 say the sky won’t fall if a new law isn’t in place to immediately replace it.

Many critics of Bill C-14 say the law is too restrictive, and doesn’t meet the Supreme Court’s requirements for a new law. Others say it’s too lax. Trudeau acknowledged this debate, but said he was confident the government “got that balance right.”