On June 15, 2005; Francine Lalonde, Bloc Québécois member from La Pointe-de-l’Île introduced Bill C-407: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (right to die with dignity).
Bill C-407 amends sections 222 and 241 of the criminal code. Section 222 of the criminal code concerns homicide. Euthanasia is prosecuted in Canada under Section 222. Assisted suicide is prosecuted in Canada under section 241.

Bill C-407 legalizes both euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Bill C-407 is not about allowing a "death with dignity" for the terminally ill. This bill legalizes euthanasia and assisted suicide for people suffering chronic physical and mental pain.

Bill C-407 is not about "death with dignity" for competent people. This bill legalizes euthanasia and assisted suicide for people who "appear to be lucid". What does that mean?

Bill C-407 is not about "physician aid-in-dying". This bill allows anyone to euthanize or assist the suicide of anyone, so long as they are "assisted by a medical practitioner", and act in the way indicated by the person who asks to die.

Bill C-407 does not even require that a person at least try effective treatments for their chronic physical or mental pain. It states that a person qualifies for euthanasia even if they have refused to try effect treatments.

The only safeguard in this bill is that it restricts euthanasia and assisted suicide to persons 18 years of age or older. Even this safeguard is liable to be struck down by the courts under the equality provision of the charter, if Bill C-407 becomes law.

Bill C-407 allows any person to kill another person. Once society allows one person to kill another person it soon becomes impossible to protect people who are otherwise viewed as a "burden" on society.

You write or call your member of parliament and say that you oppose Bill C-407 because it is an attack on people with disabilities, people with chronic conditions and other vulnerable Canadians who are already devalued by many members of society-- people who need to be protected.