OTTAWA –
The country is not prepared to expand eligibility for euthanasia to people whose only medical condition is mental illness, Health Minister Mark Holland said on Monday.
He said the Liberal government agreed with the conclusion of a joint parliamentary committee report released Monday and that more time was needed before that could happen.
Justice Minister Arif Virani said the government was keenly aware of the looming deadline, with the expansion set to come into force in March, and would have a plan in place.
But none of the ministers were willing to make clear what they planned to do to address the concerns.
A law is needed to change the schedule. The Liberals already signed a one-year delay into law last year, saying at the time that medical providers and provinces needed more time to prepare.
“The legislative timeframe is tight. We are aware of this. This must be done before (March 17),” Holland said.
“I don’t think the schedule is an obstacle, but we have to move quickly.”
The joint committee’s final report, delivered just moments before Holland and Virani’s appearance on Parliament Hill, concluded that fundamental issues surrounding enlargement have not yet been resolved.
It said it had heard “conflicting testimony” and that the committee should meet again a year before the actual expansion to check whether enough progress had been made.
Conservative MPs and senators on the committee said in a dissenting report that it would be “reckless and dangerous” for the Liberal government to allow the planned change to take place in March.
They are calling on the Liberals to abandon enlargement entirely.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2024.
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