Euthanasia hearings spark questions over Ottawa's role

Last October, a poll of the doctors in one of Quebecs two medical associations, Fédération des médecins spécialistes, found that of 2,025 medical specialists polled, 75% said they were certainly or probably in favour of legalizing euthanasia, as long as strict parameters were in place. A poll conducted just before that one by Angus Reid found that 77% of Quebecers supported a move to legalize euthanasia, and 75% of British Columbia residents did as well.

Around 3,600 people have already filled out a questionnaire relating to the upcoming commission, which Mr. Kelley says is a record for a National Assembly survey. Around 300 people are lined up to speak about the issue at the upcoming meetings.

The last time Canadians had a national discussion on euthanasia was in 1993, when Sue Rodriguez, a woman suffering from Lou Gehrigs disease, fought to have the right to receive help to commit suicide. Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled against Ms. Rodriguez in a tight 5-4 decision and she took her life with the help of an anonymous physician.

Mr. Kelley says the National Assembly has had no feedback from the federal government on the discussions. Well cross that bridge when we come to it, he said.

The Prime Ministers Office did not return requests for comment.

Observers say there is no momentum to amend Canadas law that criminalizes assisted suicide and euthanasia and Quebecs debate is not likely to change that.

I think it will have zero influence on the current government except that it will increase the pressure [for a public debate], said Arthur Schafer, director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba.

But ethicist Margaret Somerville would not be surprised to see Quebec seek a constitutional challenge by arguing assisted suicide, although currently a federal criminal law matter, is a health care issue that falls under provincial jurisdiction. The euthanasia debate is one important battle … which will determine our future shared societal values ; or at least the values on which the majority of Canadians declare our Canadian society is founded, said Ms. Somerville, director of the Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law at McGill University.

The commission is expected to table its report and recommendations sometime next spring.

© The National Post

Keywords: euthanasia