Why does MLA Throness categorize the actions of the folks in BC who made their personal choice to end their lives under the MAiD law as a slippery slope?
No one is asking him to avail himself of this decision and no one will pressure him or force him to make any personal choice. Under the guidelines, it is an individual’s right to avail their rights under the MAiD law, or for that matter any choice that a Canadian citizen decides to make within the law as transcribed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
If MLA Throness or others have any evidence of people being coerced into opting for a medically assisted death anywhere including hospices, then as a responsible citizen it is incumbent upon him to address his concern on a case by case basis with law enforcement authorities along with concrete evidence.
Your article states that a group, The Association of Reformed Political Action {ARPA} which advocates a “biblical perspective in government” is opposed to any informative role by hospices to those in care who may wish to consider a dignified termination of life under the law.
Perhaps Mr. Throness and ARPA should be once again reminded that in Canada we have a separation of church and state and our constitution gives us the right of choice in personal matters and this would include the right of a woman to control her own body which I understand they also oppose.
What we are seeing here is another attempt by the evangelical community to control choice based upon their narrow belief system, a system that would see every Canadian acquiesce to their particular value structure.
I think people should view their opposition to MAiD as another example of institutional fear-mongering designed to strip citizens of their lawful right of choice.
It is beyond time for politicians and religious groups to simply agree that they have the right to their choices but to firmly agree that all Canadians have the same right to their own without a constant battle about the issue.
It would be so refreshing to hear that just once.
I for one do not need to be admonished for my personal choices by hypocritical voices. To deprive me of my rights is a hypocritical act.
Wayne Underhill
Chilliwack