(Cpha) Question Period Monitoring Report
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June 4 – June 10, 2016 Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) Question Period Monitoring Report Contents Federal ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 Physician-Assisted Dying ..................................................................................................................... 1 Ontario ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 Electronic cigarettes ............................................................................................................................ 7 Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act, 2016 ....................................................................................... 7 Northwest Territories ............................................................................................................................... 33 Ministers Statement on Medical Assistance in Dying ....................................................................... 33 FEDERAL Physician-Assisted Dying June 6, 2016: Ms. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (Hochelaga, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Senate Liberal leader James Cowan has now joined the growing number of Canadians saying that Bill C-14 is likely unconstitutional. Cowan said that this government legislation is so flawed that Canadians would be better off with no legislation at all. This bill does not respect the Supreme Court's decision, and it will be tied up in courts for years. Instead of ramming through Bill C-14, will the government listen to James Cowan and work on getting the bill right the first time? Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, if there was ever an example of the reforms that the Liberal Party made to the Senate over the past years removing partisanship and patronage from that place, there is no better example than the NDP highlighting the great work that the Senate is doing weighing in on an important piece of legislation. I thank the hon. member for her comments about the excellent work done by the independent voices in the Senate, and I look forward to hearing what the Senate has to say about Bill C-14 when it returns to us. Ms. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (Hochelaga, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the government had the chance to do things differently with Bill C-14, but it decided to ignore experts, not to work with the opposition, and to limit debate. Warnings were coming in from all over. Quebec's health and social services minister called Bill C- 14 unenforceable. He thinks that the notion of reasonably foreseeable death is medically unfeasible and he refuses to include it in Quebec's law. Will the government finally realize that Bill C-14 must be amended? 1 Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, as part of the debates on Bill C-14, we listened to many politicians from all the different parties share their views. However, we did more than that. We listened to doctors and Canadians. We consulted the public at large, across the country, to ensure that this important and transformative measure regarding medical assistance in dying would be properly designed to uphold Canadians' rights and freedoms while protecting the most vulnerable. That is the balance we have struck, and we are proud of it. Mr. Murray Rankin (Victoria, NDP): Mr. Speaker, it is not just Quebec that is protesting. Peter Hogg, Canada's foremost constitutional scholar, today testified that Bill C-14 fails to respect the Carter decision and will undoubtedly be struck down as soon as it gets to court. He said that the government cannot turn around and exclude a group of people that the Supreme Court clearly ruled have these charter rights. It is never too late for the government to do the right thing. Will the Liberals finally respect the charter and announce that they are willing to fix the bill? Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, this government recognizes that this is a big step in the history of our country, and making sure that we do that in a responsible and thoughtful way, that both upholds Canadians' rights and freedoms while defending the most vulnerable, is exactly what we have done with this piece of legislation. On top of that, we made sure that we heard from Canadians and experts and we allowed and encouraged a free vote in the House of Commons. Unfortunately, it is disappointing that the NDP did not allow themselves a free vote on this issue. Mr. Murray Rankin (Victoria, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' stubborn refusal to listen to experts and work with the opposition will mean suffering Canadians spending years in court defending rights that they have already won. Kay Carter's family is also disillusioned with the current government. They said today that they felt betrayed. Today they called out the Prime Minister for his refusal to listen to Canadians. If the Liberals really disagree with the Alberta Court of Appeal, the Ontario court, and Canada's foremost constitutional scholar, will they at least now table the government's legal opinion on the bill, so that Canadians can judge for themselves? Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, what Canadians expect of this government is to make sure that we are both defending the rights and freedoms of Canadians while protecting the most vulnerable, and that is exactly the balance that we have struck with Bill C-14. Throughout we have been open to amendments, including accepting amendments from opposition members. We look forward to hearing the deliberations that the Senate is carrying forward on this same piece of legislation. We are ensuring that this big step that Canada is taking, despite people who think it goes too far and others who think it does not go far enough, is done the right way. Ms. Brigitte Sansoucy (Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the medical assistance in dying bill is historic. The government should have done the right thing. That is exactly what it did not do. Knowing the timeline was tight, it nevertheless waited until April to introduce its bill. It refused to listen to the experts. 2 Today, Peter Hogg, one of Canada's most respected constitutional experts, once again said that Bill C-14 would not pass the test in terms of the charter or the Carter decision. When will the Liberals change course and do the right thing? Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, we have sought to ensure that we hear from a diversity of voices in this country with respect to this incredibly difficult and complex issue. To paraphrase the Supreme Court of Canada, the court does not have a monopoly on the protection and promotion of rights, and Parliament has to do its job to be an ally to the vulnerable. We have sought to find a balance between the diversity of views and perspectives in this country, balancing personal autonomy and protecting the vulnerable. Ms. Brigitte Sansoucy (Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, NDP): Mr. Speaker, medical assistance in dying is about the law, but it is, above all, about people. The Carter family fought for years alongside their mother to make it possible for people to die with dignity in Canada. Today, they are saying that they feel betrayed by the Liberal government. The government says that it listens to Canadians, but it listens only to those who agree with it. Now that the government has failed to get its bill passed by June 6, will it come up with a bill that is charter-compliant and in line with the Carter decision? Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, we are incredibly mindful of the deadline of the Supreme Court of Canada. It is incumbent upon parliamentarians to put in place a national framework around our medical assistance in dying to ensure that there are the appropriate and necessary safeguards in place, to ensure certainty for medical practitioners, and to ensure that there is access for patients who want to access medical assistance in dying. This is an incredibly complex discussion. We have certainly listened to the voices of Canadians, and it is the voices of Canadians who have contributed toward Bill C-14. June 7, 2016: Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Outremont, NDP): Mr. Speaker, yesterday, one of the most respected constitutional experts in the country stated that the bill on medical assistance in dying is unconstitutional. He added his voice to those of the Barreau du Québec, the Alberta Court of Appeal, and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. A lot of people are saying the same thing. Why does the Prime Minister want to force people who are suffering to take their cases to court? Why does he persist when he knows he is wrong? Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect the government to defend the rights and freedoms of Canadians but also to protect the most vulnerable. Medical assistance in dying represents an important step in the evolution of our society, and it is important that it be done right. For that reason we tried to find the right balance and to introduce conditions and a responsible bill that will defend the interests and the choices of Canadians while protecting the most vulnerable. That is what we did. Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Outremont, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister raised a red herring there. Actually, it is entirely possible to protect vulnerable people and guarantee Canadians' rights.