In June 2016, the Liberal’s assisted dying bill became law, which legalized and regulated medical assisted dying for terminally ill patients.
Following the contentious debate over medically assisted death, Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu of Ontario introduced a private member’s bill, C-277, establishing a national framework for palliative care in Canada. The new bill calls for better access to palliative care in hospitals, at home, at long-term care facilities, and at residential hospices. The bill came to the floor in the spring of 2017 and passed with unanimous support.
On Thursday afternoon, August 10 at the Boissevain Legion Hall, Larry Maguire, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris, hosted a round table to discuss Palliative Care and to gain support for Bill C-277.
Joining Maguire at the table was Rachael Harder, Conservative Party Health Critic. About 50 people from the region came to share their stories and give support.
“With medical-assisted legislation in place, it provides one choice, but as conservative members we actually believe it is not really a choice at all if palliative care is not also offered,” said Harder. “Assisted-dying is implementing one thing, but it is not properly providing a second choice, which would be access to palliative care.”
In Canada, 1 in 6 Canadians are seniors, but in 2025 that will jump to 1 in 4, and that number is expected to continue to grow, especially as people are living longer. According to the Canadian Medical Association, 70% of Canadians do not have access to palliative care.
In the Prairie Mountain Health Region, only Brandon and Dauphin have designated funded palliative care facilities. However, it was pointed out that palliative care services are available in rural communities.
Merle Teetaert of Deloraine, a retired Palliative Care Resource Nurse, rolled out a long list of towns in Southwest Manitoba, including Boissevain, that have an active network of volunteers that work with health care staff, which are providing essential palliative care services.
“They all got designated Palliative Care Committees who actively work with the staff providing physical needs,” said Teetart. “But they do more than that. They provide support, they make sure food is in the fridge, they volunteer to sit with patients to give family members a break.”
For David Rourke of Minto, he came to the table to talk about the alternative to palliative care as an option.
“I want to live as well as I can for as long as I can live, but when it is time to go with some dignity, and not be a burden to society, in terms of making me hang on, I want to be able to direct my end of life, more than what is being allowed now,” said Rourke. “I don’t think legislation even goes close to that.”
Harder acknowledged that some would like the medical assisted dying legislation to go further and there are those who would prefer it did not.
“Not all Canadians are going to agree on everything, in fact we are not going to agree on anything.”
“However, there does in fact need to be a choice, and if there is not an option to die with dignity without medical assistance, it is not a choice,” she said. “To die pain free, in my home if I choose, with my family, still looking and feeling like me – if I don’t have that choice, then I have been robbed of dignity as a Canadian. I should not have to choose medical assistance in dying in order to be granted that type of death. That is what this piece of legislation is about, it is about preserving that choice.”
Dale Whetter of Boissevain is very grateful for palliative care, having lost three beloved members of his family in the last five years.
“Life is precious from conception till death by natural causes. That is how God had meant it to be. And we have to do everything we can to care for people, for children at the beginning, and our seniors at the end of life,” added Whetter.
“I stand behind you in the fight for more palliative care,” he added. “If you need to raise my taxes to get more money to do it, you are welcome.”
According to Harder, the math indicates more hospices and home care will cost taxpayers less. Acute palliative care costs $1100 per day, as opposed to hospice which is only $250 per day and home care only $200.
“We are here to advocate the needs of Canadians, and as our population is getting older, we are making sure that people have the choices they need, and access the services they need, to age with dignity and honour,” she added.
With Bill C-277 receiving its third reading this spring, Harder explained Canadians should expect to see the government take action on it by November. If they fail to do so, she said that the Conservative party will apply pressure to the Liberals and hold the government accountable to follow through with the legislation.
by LORRAINE HOUSTON, Editor