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Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

Bloc Québécois on Medical Assistance in Dying Safeguards Act 2026-11-04

Replying to Todd Doherty (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, I have listened to this debate at length. I think my hon. colleague knows that my record stands in the House as one fighting against suicide. As I said in my speech and my comments, we are seeing a number of concerns already with the legislation as it stands. The medical community, those who have to deliver those lethal doses, those end-of-life medications, have concerns. We are asking on this side if, perhaps, this should be studied a little bit more, if we should hear from those professionals, because none of us in the House are doing that. There is nothing to prepare any of us to be able to vote on this. I do not think there has been enough study of this bill. I think it is out of compassion that we are pushing back and fighting for those who are perhaps considering this.”

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Mr. Speaker, I did not have time to expand on prevention and the potential to save lives. Many of my colleagues have said that, when it comes to mental health in particular, we should start by putting all our efforts and energy into the service delivery networks. Yes, there are shortcomings. Imagine a loved one saying that they are going through an unbearable situation and they are going to request MAID. That person is sending a cry for help in the face of suffering. I am very sensitive to the issue of suicide. It may sound crazy to say, but if the person makes that request, rather than committing an irreversible act, that is, killing themselves, they have a better chance of getting through the crisis. That person will be cared for, because they will obviously not be eligible for MAID, and they will not fall through the cracks.