Dear Member of Parliament,
Canada stands at a threshold. The issues of assisted suicide and euthanasia raise profound moral, social, medical and legal issues which drive to the very heart of the fabric of our society.
The introduction of Bill C-14, the hearings and report of the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying, and the Carter decision raise these issues for you to consider.
We have heard from Canadians across the country who are very concerned about these issues. Over 25,000 have signed the Declaration Against Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide developed by the EFC and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. And more are signing every day.
The EFC is opposed to assisted suicide and euthanasia and has expressed this repeatedly. However, given that proposed legislation will allow these practices, we are urging Parliamentarians to put in place the most stringent safeguards possible in order to protect the vulnerable and ensure that occurrences are rare.
We are also gravely concerned about conscience protection for medical practitioners and institutions who object to euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Please accept the enclosed copy of Euthanasia + Palliative Care: A Guide for Canadians. This guide contains thought-provoking articles and reflection questions to help you think through the issues and consider how we as Canadians, particularly from a faith perspective, can offer loving, respectful and life-honouring care to those around us.
We urge you to be cautious in legislating euthanasia and assisted suicide. This is a profound shift for Canadian society. We ask you to pause and consider the institutional and societal implications of crossing this threshold.
Please feel free to contact our office in Ottawa if we can be a resource for you.
We pray for wisdom and God’s blessing on you as you serve our country.
Sincerely,
Julia Beazley
Director, Public Policy
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada