Justice committee  I think it would be a very serious impact. I noticed when we got together to make a statement in the parliamentary press room a while ago that the Salvation Army also was standing...we were side by side, because they also have hospitals that are very concerned about this. I think it's the institutions, these health care facilities that are there to serve....

Justice committee  I think that with health care institutions, what we call their conscience we called “mission”. From the earliest days of our country, the religious sisters who founded health care in our country were driven by their mission of serving other people. That is the heart of who they were, and it is to this very day.

Justice committee  Good afternoon, and thank you for providing the opportunity to speak with you about Bill C-14, legislation that will have a profound impact on Canadian society for years to come. I appear today on behalf of the Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience. Joining me is my colleague Larry Worthen, the executive director of the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada, which is a member of our coalition.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Okay. Maybe I'll start with the very important point you raise concerning dignity. Everyone may have different opinions or different views on that. I would say dignity comes from within the person himself or herself. I would think even a person without faith would see that in a purely human way, the dignity of the human person.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  I'm certainly sure there are people—many around this table and around the country—who are very much committed to ensuring that physician-assisted suicide takes place. Obviously, after the Carter decision, this is the project of this committee. As I have made clear, I don't believe this is the direction the country should be going in.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  I'm sure other people will be doing that, but I don't believe in the thing itself. What I do believe is that the rights of conscience, of people who are constantly involved with compassionately caring for those most in need, need to be protected. I also believe that alternatives should be presented, funded very directly, and that would be palliative care.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  I think it's very true to say that institutions are not bricks and mortar. You don't look around and say this is.... Institutions are made of people. Institutions are like the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Grey Nuns, all of the various groups who have brought loving health care to this place.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Larry will give some of the details. I would say first of all that we do not agree, obviously, with assisted suicide and euthanasia. We think this is a direction that leads all kinds of people into tremendous suffering and is not good for our whole community. It is really a thing that causes great ultimate suffering for all of the most vulnerable, including those who are considering suicide and things of that nature.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Good evening, and thank you for allowing us this opportunity to provide input on such a profoundly important subject. I appear today on behalf of the Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience. Joining me is Larry Worthen, the executive director of the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada.