Marilène Gill

Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 7 wordsI thank my colleague for his speech.Thanks Procedure · 9 wordsI will of course continue in a similar vein.Procedure Thanks · 23 wordsI also want to thank my colleague, the member for Montcalm, for all the thoughtful and empathetic work he has put into this, ThanksReasoning · 11 wordsbecause that is what is needed on this kind of bill. Positioning · 6 wordsWe are talking about human suffering.Positioning Claims · 37 wordsHe has done comprehensive and rigorous work on MAID over the past seven years. I know for a fact that he made a significant contribution to all the legislation that we have discussed and passed since then. Procedure · 29 wordsI say “since then” because, obviously, this is an ongoing discussion. There is one criticism I have for the government, and I am sure many will agree with me.Procedure Claims · 35 wordsThe report was tabled in the spring, the government introduced the bill, ²and now it is urging the House to pass the bill fast, even though we have been talking about this issue for years. Positioning · 36 wordsThis may be a new way of doing things, now that the government has a majority. The government may not be as interested in hearing what the opposition on the other side of the House thinks.Positioning Reasoning · 18 wordsHowever, majority government or not, I think we should take the time to study bills like this one, Positioning · 15 wordswhich, as I said, deals with human suffering. This issue is a very human issue.Positioning The ask · 20 wordsWe should take the time to go further, instead of imposing something and saying that it is this or nothing. Positioning · 8 wordsThat is more or less what is happening.Positioning Procedure · 31 wordsOne of the first things I would like to discuss about the bill is its constitutionality. We are being asked to take a position on a bill that is basically twofold: ProcedureClaims · 19 wordsthe issue of permanently excluding mental disorders from the legislation and the whole issue of advance requests for MAID.³ Reasoning · 49 wordsWhen we know that this is discriminatory or, to keep things hypothetical—despite knowing for a fact that it is discriminatory—when we suspect that discrimination is involved, we have to determine whether the bill is constitutional.Unearned certainty Voting for something unconstitutional would not advance the cause of people who are suffering. Claims · 22 wordsThe government has had years to seek an opinion on the matter from the Supreme Court, ⁴but it has not done so. Positioning · 5 wordsTo me, that is irresponsible.Positioning The ask · 34 wordsIt should seek the court’s opinion so we do not end up needing to repeat the same work again or forcing people in pain to prove that they deserve access to certain end-of-life services. Procedure · 27 wordsThat is one of the first points I want to make. I am not saying that it outweighs the others on substance, but on form, at least.Procedure Positioning · 8 wordsWe are already up against a problem here, PositioningClaims · 44 wordsand the government is trying to impose a solution without even knowing whether it is constitutional. Furthermore, no proposal is being made to divide the bill and, for instance, introduce one bill that we could vote on and seek an opinion for the other.⁵ Procedure · 10 wordsWe will now move on to the bill’s two purposes.Procedure Claims · 40 wordsThe first is the matter of shelving the bill indefinitely or perhaps even permanently. I heard a member opposite say that the bill was not necessarily being shelved permanently and that we could maybe come back to it one day. Positioning · 14 wordsUnlike him, I would say that we should strike while the iron is hot, PositioningReasoning · 10 wordsbecause there are people who are still suffering right now. Claims · 13 wordsThere are people who are suffering who are being excluded from the legislation. Procedure · 5 wordsI spoke about discrimination earlier.Procedure Positioning · 4 wordsThey are being excluded, PositioningThe ask · 7 wordsand we need to discuss that now. Reasoning · 38 wordsJust because a discussion is difficult and just because there are differences of opinion does not mean that we should put off having these difficult and demanding debates. It is difficult because it is a matter of beliefs. Positioning · 5 wordsIt is an emotional issue.Positioning Procedure · 11 wordsThere are, of course, various schools of thought on the matter, ProcedureClaims · 13 wordsbut the fact remains that these decisions must be reasonable, rigorous and science-based. Positioning · 12 wordsAs my colleague said several times, no one here is a psychiatrist.Positioning The ask · 6 wordsWe need to hear from everyone. Claims · 40 wordsEven during the committee study, I do not think that we heard from everyone. We did not hear from people who are struggling with mental health issues and who are currently excluded from the bill. We heard from other witnesses. Reasoning · 23 wordsIf we want our work to be completely objective and we really want to deliberate responsibly, then we need to hear from everyone. The ask · 27 wordsPerhaps, first and foremost, we should be listening to those who may wish to request MAID at some point, regardless of whether that request is ultimately granted. Positioning · 21 wordsIn Quebec, we believe that every individual has the right to choose for themselves what constitutes a healthy and dignified life.Positioning Procedure · 4 wordsThat is one thing.Procedure Positioning · 15 wordsI get the impression that the reluctance to ask difficult questions stems from preconceived notions.Positioning Reasoning · 25 wordsThat is why it is important to conduct an objective study and to engage directly with those affected in order to better understand the issue. Aside · 6 wordsWhat I heard earlier astonishes me.Aside Procedure · 14 wordsIt shows me exactly where we have landed in certain aspects of the debate.Procedure Claims · 9 wordsWe are talking about access to mental health care. The ask · 5 wordsThat needs to be improved. Aside · 11 wordsHowever, I see that a sort of calculation is being made, AsideClaims · 17 wordsand the assumption is that greater access to mental health care will mean less need for MAID. Reasoning · 16 wordsThat alone tells me that the very premise of what MAID is has not been understood. Positioning · 5 wordsThat is a huge issue.Positioning The ask · 20 wordsI believe we need to talk about that, particularly given that we are dealing with stereotypes and preconceived notions here. Claims · 27 wordsPeople think that someone is going to walk into a doctor’s office and say that they are depressed, that they are having dark thoughts and suicidal ideations, Positioning · 4 wordsso they want MAID.Positioning Procedure · 35 wordsI have heard that before in the House. I am paraphrasing, those are not the exact words, but we can certainly find that in the Hansard. That is where things stand, to a certain extent, ProcedureThe ask · 14 wordsso we must not stop discussing this. At worst, let us split the bill, Reasoning · 7 wordsbecause there are people who are suffering. Promise · 8 wordsWe want the advance requests to move forward, Reasoning · 8 wordsbut we also need to resolve this issue. Positioning · 17 wordsWe cannot hide behind the excuse that it is too difficult and that we cannot address it.Positioning Procedure · 19 wordsThe second point is in fact the issue of advance requests. My colleague from Berthier—Maskinongé talked about it already.Procedure Claims · 7 wordsAdvance requests are available only in Quebec.⁶ Positioning · 12 wordsWhat we in the Bloc Québécois fear is that the federal law, ⁷PositioningClaims · 13 wordswhich takes precedence, will be more restrictive than what already exists in Quebec. The ask · 7 wordsWe want the laws to be harmonized. Positioning · 15 wordsMy concern is that the government may not agree with what Quebec is doing now.Positioning The question · 28 wordsWhy would the government not use terms that have already proven effective in Quebec and with which the members of the Bloc Québécois and Quebeckers in general agree? Claims · 56 wordsIn any case, 80% of Quebec’s population agrees with MAID and advance requests.⁸ We have a strong consensus. Let us just say that the percentage of people who support this is higher than the percentage of voters who supported the government in the last election.⁹ In short, people agree and they are open to the idea, Positioning · 25 wordsbut we do not want to lose out. We do not want the federal government to set us back or cause more people to suffer.Positioning Procedure · 6 wordsI am also thinking about doctors.Procedure The question · 4 wordsWhat will they do? Claims · 29 wordsThrough the Criminal Code, the federal government will have the power to dictate what Quebec does.¹ It would restrict what is permitted to less than what we currently have.¹⁰ Positioning · 8 wordsThis is truly a huge concern for us.Positioning Claims · 17 wordsThe minister said earlier, in response to my colleague from Berthier—Maskinongé, that he was ready to talk. Procedure · 17 wordsWell, my colleague from Montcalm has raised this matter several times. He has already brought it up.Procedure The ask · 11 wordsI think we need to take the time to discuss this. Positioning · 8 wordsWe cannot be steamrolled into rushing this discussion.Positioning The ask · 19 wordsWe need to see what will be done so we can ensure that we are properly defending our constituents. Positioning · 10 wordsAs I said, we do not want to go backwards.Positioning Procedure · 20 wordsI would like to make one final point. This addresses a concern that one of my opposition colleagues raised earlier.Procedure Claims · 39 wordsHe said that doctors did not agree and that there was a medical consensus.¹¹ However, the Collège des médecins du Québec agrees that a blanket ban should not be considered.¹² Everyone in Quebec is ready to have this discussion. Promise · 24 wordsWe in the Bloc Québécois are ready to have this discussion so that certain individuals with mental health disorders can benefit from this measure. Procedure · 7 wordsAgain, this does not apply to everybody.Procedure The ask · 29 wordsThere needs to be a discussion. I urge all members of the House to show the utmost compassion, to strive to set aside their biases and to get informed. Positioning · 6 wordsWe are talking about science here.Positioning Claims · 22 wordsThe people on whom our health care system depends are fully capable of telling us what could be done in this case. Promise · 16 wordsI hope that the bill will respect Quebec and, of course, respect those who are suffering.