On Friday, October 2, 2009, Bill C-384 -- the private member's bill introduced by Francine Lalonde (BQ) to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada -- received its first hour of debate in the House of Commons.6 MPs speaking against vs 2 in favor - I like those numbers. Of those speaking against - 3 Liberal MPs and 1 New Democrat - that too is encouraging, hopefully, we can count on a large number of Liberals and even some New Democrats to vote against the bill.
Parliamentary procedure states that a private member's bill receives two hours of debate before being voted on at second reading. C-384 is tentatively scheduled to receive its second hour of debate on November 16, 2009.
Eight Members of Parliament spoke on C-384. Two spoke in favour - Francine Lalonde (BQ), Serge Cardin - (BQ); six opposed the bill - David Anderson (CPC), Hon John McKay (Lib), Jacques Gourde (CPC), Hon Marlene Jennings (Lib), Joe Comartin (NDP), Paul Szabo (Lib).
But that doesn't mean that the defeat of C-384 is certain. There are more than enough MPs that support the bill and they'll do their best to save the cause. First and foremost - they'll try to use those 6 weeks they have before the second hour of debate to win the support of the undecided or "middle-of-the-road" MPs, with a promise of some vague compromise. That shouldn't be allowed to happen. We should make it clear to our MPs that no compromise is acceptable, when it comes to human life. Bill C-384 must be defeated.
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