Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I thank the witnesses for joining us. It is the middle of their afternoon, I believe. Where to begin? There is quite a bit of conflicting testimony, which is often difficult for members, particularly for those of us at the beginning of this process. We are certainly at the beginning of the legislative process and in the experience phase. I suppose I have to start with the ethical question in relation to what appears to be a firmly slippery slope that the Canadian people have experienced from 2015, that judicial case and the legislation that flowed from that. Could the witnesses outline what changes have occurred since that first piece of legislation enabling medically assisted dying and today? Are there changes planned?

A contradiction has been presented between witnesses, which places me in a very difficult position, as I am sure the witnesses can understand. Could they outline to the committee whether there are protections in place or whether some of the instances that have been read into the committee's record are the exception rather than the norm? I refer specifically to cases of individuals who are homeless and desperate and found themselves applying for medically assisted dying.

The only other question I have is for the disability advocates who are present. The proposal that has been outlined to us by medical professionals in Ireland who are in favour of legislating for assisted dying involves a set of circumstances in which an individual would only have access to medically assisted dying if they were terminally ill and had six months left to live, under various other certain conditions, including medical supervision. We are talking about a pathway such as that. How did Canada go from that ethical, medical standard to what is occurring at the moment? Perhaps I will start with Dr. Janz as she started us off.