Discussion · Private Members' Business
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal
“We need to talk more about mental health. If this bill passes, people with severe mental illnesses will never be considered for assisted dying, and I do not think that is right. I do not think we should ban them from it.”
“Madam Speaker, the issue of MAID came before the House again because of a superior court decision in Quebec. That we can say. An hon. member: Oh, oh! Hon. Kevin Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, they can call it what they want. It is still a superior court in Quebec. Moving forward, the issue has been brought to the House, and a decision has been made. There is a sunset clause within the legislation that does need to be addressed. On the issue of mental illness, ever since I have been a parliamentarian, I can remember Dr. Gulzar Cheema, one of my colleagues in the Manitoba legislature, arguing and articulating on why it was so important that we have not only a department of health but also a department of mental health, because we need much more to recognize mental health as part of our health system. There are severe files within mental health that I believe, if this legislation were to pass, would never, ever get any consideration, and I do not believe that would be appropriate. Given the very importance of the issue of mental health, let us have more discussions. I would like more provinces to establish departments of mental health, but at the end of the day, I do not necessarily believe the exclusion is the way to go.”
Madam Speaker, the issue of MAID came before the House again because of a superior court decision in Quebec. That we can say. An hon. member: Oh, oh! Hon. Kevin Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, they can call it what they want. It is still a superior court in Quebec. Moving forward, the issue has been brought to the House, and a decision has been made. There is a sunset clause within the legislation that does need to be addressed. On the issue of mental illness, ever since I have been a parliamentarian, I can remember Dr. Gulzar Cheema, one of my colleagues in the Manitoba legislature, arguing and articulating on why it was so important that we have not only a department of health but also a department of mental health, because we need much more to recognize mental health as part of our health system. There are severe files within mental health that I believe, if this legislation were to pass, would never, ever get any consideration, and I do not believe that would be appropriate. Given the very importance of the issue of mental health, let us have more discussions. I would like more provinces to establish departments of mental health, but at the end of the day, I do not necessarily believe the exclusion is the way to go.