The Lives of People with Disabilities Are at Risk

The following message is brought to you by our friends at Inclusion Canada. It’s an important one. Don’t skip it.

Literally, people with disabilities lives are at stake.

The passing of Bill C-7 – new Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) legislation – could mean being disabled is the reason to end your life.

What?!?

Take that last sentence and replace the word “disabled” with any other diversity group. Now, that wouldn’t fly with any other group, would it? And it shouldn’t with us…

As you may know, the Canadian government is considering Bill C-7 which, if passed, will threaten the lives, rights, and dignity of people with disabilities. Currently, in Canada, medical assistance in dying (MAiD) can only be provided to people who are near end of life. If passed, Bill C-7 will no longer restrict MAiD to end of life circumstances and will make disability a justification for ending a life.

When a person without a disability suffers to the point of wanting to die, we do everything possible to prevent this from happening. The very same needs to be true for people with disabilities whose lives are no less valuable, no less deserving of every protection and preventative effort, and no less a loss to family, friends, and society in general.

The Government is rushing Bill C-7 through the parliamentary process during a global pandemic and at a time when the disability community is already experiencing significant hardship. Bill C-7 risks setting the disability rights movement back by decades. There is no question – we must not go forward with these changes to MAiD. Government has a responsibility to work with people who have a disability and their families; to find an approach that protects their lives and ensures a more equitable and inclusive Canada.

This is a public fight. Please join us in taking a public stand with a strong voice expressing your opposition to Bill C-7 on every front.

You can support these efforts by taking action through the Life Worth Living website where you will find lots of resources and ways to voice your concerns.

But if you do one thing today, please send letters to Members of Parliament and Senators telling them that Bill C-7 is not acceptable.