Below is a letter I sent to Prime Minister-designate, Justin Trudeau to invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to halt the Supreme Court ruling on assisted suicide. I am aware that chances he will do this unpopular thing are remote. Justin Trudeau is basking in the glow of public approval,and the Liberal Party supports assisted suicide. Still, as a citizen I must make a plea for the Common Good of my nation, and those who are depressed because of their circumstances and will be euthanized with the full sanction of the state. I must speak up. 
_____________________
The
Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau
Prime
Minister of Canada
House
of Commons
OTTAWA,
Ontario
K1A
0A6
Dear
Prime Minister:
Supreme
Court ruling for assisted suicide
I
am writing to plead with you to invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and freedoms
and override the monstrous Supreme Court decision to strike down the nation’s
law against assisted suicide. It will be consistent with your previous support
for a National Suicide Prevention Strategy that received unanimous support of
Parliament in October of 2012. The high court’s odious decision threatens to set
back advances in disability inclusion forty years that I and others have fought
hard to gain.
I
have been incurably ill with aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS) for more than
thirty years. Its degenerative nature gradually stripped me of physical
function from being healthy and athletic to living in an electric wheelchair. If
assisted suicide had been available during the mid-1980s I might have opted for
it at a low point. I’m so glad I did not seek out a Jack Kevorkian. I never
would have known my grandchildren. You see, Prime Minister, quality of life
changes. What gave my life quality in 1984 is not what gives my life quality in
2015. Physical function is not so important to me anymore; it is love that
brings quality to my life now: To love and be loved.
You
did the right thing in 2012 by supporting a national suicide prevention
strategy. Do the right thing again and invoke the notwithstanding clause, even
though it will be unpopular. A national suicide prevention strategy must be for
all Canadians, not just the healthy. Support increased emphasis on palliative
medicine in medical schools and nursing programs across the country.
Thank
you for reading and considering my letter. If you have any questions, feel free
to contact me.
I
am, Sir,
Yours very truly,
Mark Davis Pickup
No comments:
Post a Comment