Quebecers' Opinions Sought On Right-To-Die Issue

Quebecers' opinions sought on right-to-die issue, Dec. 3, 2009.

MONTREAL - Quebec is going to open up the debate on the right to die issue.

Acting on a request from the Parti Québécois, the government yesterday agreed with the creation of an ad-hoc roaming commission that will seek Quebecer’s opinions and the views of experts on the controversial issue.

The decision is to be formalized in a National Assembly vote Friday but the Liberals on Thursday announced they agreed.

“It’s a complex problem,” said Jacques-Cartier Liberal MNA Geoff Kelley, chairman of the legislature’s health and social service committee, which will be handed the job of staging the debate.

“There are no easy answers, but I think it merits sweeping reflection.

“I am very interested in following up the mandate and working with all the political parties represented here in the Assembly.

“The debate is very important. We just have to look at our demographic curve to realize more and more

people, unfortunately, are approaching the end of their days and it is a reality of our lives.

“This is not a partisan debate. There is not a Liberal position, or a PQ position or an ADQ (Action démocratique du Québec) position or a Québec solidaire position. It’s just something that I think 125 members of this assembly have a responsibility to look at and have a responsibility to untangle these very complex moral, legal and medical issues.”

Earlier, at a new conference, PQ leader Pauline Marois and two of her MNAs announced they would seek the accord of other politicians for the debate.

“I believe that more then ever the Quebec population is ready to hold this debate,” Marois said. “Quebecers are people who understand inconsiderate suffering and they want to find solutions.”

By Philip Authier, The Gazette, Montreal, Canada