In Committee from the House of Commons
Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying - January 25, 2016
The committee continues its hearings on doctor-assisted death. MPs and senators hear from Health Canada officials Abby Hoffman (assistant deputy minister, Strategic Policy) and Sharon Harper (manager, Chronic and Continuing Care Division), constitutional scholar Peter Hogg, and Barreau du Québec members Marc Sauvé (director, Research and Legislation Services) and Jean-Pierre Ménard. Last February, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the ban on assisted suicide and gave the federal government one year to draft new legislation. The court recently extended the deadline to respond to the ruling, granting the government an additional four months instead of the six it had requested. Canada's top court also recently ruled that Quebec's assisted dying law can remain in effect. Quebec is only province that has passed legislation to allow doctor-assisted death. (January 25, 2016)
