Philip Lawrence

Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 18 wordsI want to start my speech by congratulating all members of the House for the debate so far.Thanks Positioning · 6 wordsI have been here observing it.Positioning Thanks · 27 wordsI thought the member for Winnipeg North had an excellent question about hospice. The Bloc Québécois members talked about a very difficult subject in a sensitive manner.Thanks Positioning · 14 wordsI am not sure if Canadians are always proud of us in the House, PositioningReasoning · 23 wordsbut I definitely think they could be this afternoon and morning with this important debate. This debate is quite frankly overdue and necessary. Thanks · 34 wordsLike I said, I commend members in the House again for the compassionate way in which we have been able to have a dialogue, with many members I am sure having many different opinions.Thanks Reasoning · 41 wordsIn addition to Bill C-41 and the content in it, a general discussion about MAID is important, regardless of where, I might add, someone is on the issue and whether they are an advocate or believe there should be additional safeguards. Claims · 49 wordsCanada is about to hit the highest rate of medically assisted dying in the developed world. In 2024, we were number two in the world, next to the Netherlands.¹ We were at about 5.1% of total deaths.² I do not believe we have a national number yet for 2025, Procedure · 12 wordsand if someone wants to interject, I am happy to take it, ProcedureClaims · 52 wordsbut for Ontario in 2025, the rate was 7.3%.³ We are creeping up to about 10% of total deaths being done by medical assistance in dying. I do not believe this was a number that was projected or that we thought would occur at the time that the legislation was initially passed. Positioning · 13 wordsNumbers do not always tell the whole story. In fact, they rarely do, PositioningReasoning · 10 wordsbut data points can point us in the right direction. The ask · 31 wordsRegardless of where someone is on the issue, I think we need to have a discussion, especially as MAID creeps up closer and closer to 10% of total deaths in Canada. Claims · 40 wordsOn to the substance of the legislation, one of the more troubling elements that has occurred since 2019, when I was first elected, is the potential inclusion of mental illness as the sole reason for accessing medical assistance in dying.⁴ Reasoning · 26 wordsThis is challenging not because mental illness is not as real as a physical illness. It very much is. In fact, I would say 100% is.Unearned certainty Claims · 28 wordsThe challenge is that with some mental illnesses, it is very difficult, according to the experts and the practitioners, to fully understand the impacts of certain mental illnesses. Reasoning · 103 wordsWhat we would never, ever want to see is that there was a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I think most people in here, regardless of the suffering if in fact it was for a finite amount of time, would want to be there in supporting people to get through to the other side of that. If it is possible to get to a point where someone can once again enjoy living and the suffering is no longer overwhelming, I am sure the vast majority of Canadians would want to see the community and health practitioners helping a person get through it. Thanks · 24 wordsOnce again, I would like to commend the House on a thoughtful dialogue. I thank the House for allowing me to contribute to it.Thanks