United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership candidate Travis Toews says doctor-assisted suicide should not be offered to those suffering from mental illness.
Parliament recently expanded assisted dying legislation to include the disabled, whereas previously, only those with a terminal illness were eligible. The Liberal government also expanded eligibility to those suffering solely with a mental illness beginning March 2023.
Legalizing and expanding doctor-assisted suicide creates a “slippery slope” as evidenced by the shifting conversation to protect those with mental illness, Toews said.
“(As Premier) I would do everything in my power to ensure that (assisted dying) isn’t offered to those who were suffering from mental illness,” Toews told True North.
“It’s one thing to offer (assisted dying) to somebody that’s terminally ill and in their last days… and now we see it applied to individuals who perhaps have years of life and where treatment options are available.”
Premier Jason Kenney’s former finance minister also said many people suffer from mental illness at one point in their life, but many are able to recover and lead healthy lives.
“And that’s the incredible risk with offering (assisted dying) to those individuals that suffer from mental health when they need to be offered hope.”
Earlier this week, Global News reported that a Canadian Forces veteran seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury was unexpectedly and casually offered assisted dying by a Veterans Affairs Canada employee.
[Interesting Read]
If you’re willing to support murdering the pre-born, then I’m sure it’s OK to murder your wonky relatives. Does their life insurance still pay out? Anyway the government now has their lifetime CPP payments for “good works”.