Tories confirm euthanasia not on agenda

Minister of Health has no 'intention of changing position'

Rona Ambrose reaffirmed that the federal government will not have a debate on euthanasia. 

(Photo credit: Sgt. Ronald Duchesne / Rideau Hall)

Rona Ambrose, the federal Minister of Health, confirmed Aug. 19 that she and her fellow Tories have no interest in reopening the debate on euthanasia. According to the Vancouver Province, she spoke at the Canadian Medical Association's annual general council meeting:

"This is an issue that is very emotional for a lot of people - not just regular Canadians but also physicians," she said.

The Criminal Code outlaws euthanasia and assisted suicide, decreeing it a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The Quebec provincial government is moving to challenge the federal law with proposed legislation that would protect from prosecution doctors who administer life-ending drugs to terminally ill patients experiencing unbearable physical or psychological suffering.

"All of us think about the issue because we have elderly grandparents and elderly parents, and it's on the minds of many because Quebec has introduced their legislation," Ambrose said. 

"Parliament voted in 2010 to not change its position on this issue," she said. "At this time, we don't have any intention of changing our position."