Close X
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canadians suffering at the end of their lives need top court's help, lawyer says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Oct, 2014 10:35 AM

    OTTAWA - A lawyer set to argue at the Supreme Court of Canada this week for the right to assisted suicide says it would be a travesty if politicians simply ignore the issue.

    Grace Pastine of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association says suffering Canadians are asking for the top court's help to change the current laws.

    Should the Supreme Court agree that today's rules violate the Constitution, it could give Parliament time to write new laws.

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Tuesday he has no intention of reopening the debate, noting that it has been before Parliament in the past.

    Several bills that would allow for assisted suicide have come before the House of Commons over the last two decades but none has ever made it very far.

    Still, Harper says the government is watching the case with great interest.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    First Nations health officials to start salmon testing after B.C. mine spill

    First Nations health officials to start salmon testing after B.C. mine spill
    LIKELY, B.C. - First Nations health officials are preparing to test salmon near the site of a massive mine tailing spill in British Columbia amid fears in aboriginal communities that fish from affected lakes and rivers aren't safe to eat.

    First Nations health officials to start salmon testing after B.C. mine spill

    Bloc MP Fortin quits; says the party no longer exists under new leader

    Bloc MP Fortin quits; says the party no longer exists under new leader
    Bloc Quebecois MP Jean-Francois Fortin quit the party Tuesday, accusing its new leader of being divisive and radical.

    Bloc MP Fortin quits; says the party no longer exists under new leader

    Wildfire Closes Regional B.C. Highway as Dry Conditions Mean More Campfire Bans

    Wildfire Closes Regional B.C. Highway as Dry Conditions Mean More Campfire Bans
    VANCOUVER - A wildfire has closed a section of Highway 20 west of Alexis Creek in B.C.'s Cariboo region.

    Wildfire Closes Regional B.C. Highway as Dry Conditions Mean More Campfire Bans

    14-year-old Quebec driver dies in accident along with female passenger, 17

    14-year-old Quebec driver dies in accident along with female passenger, 17
    A 14-year-old driver and a 17-year-old female passenger are dead after an accident south of Quebec City.

    14-year-old Quebec driver dies in accident along with female passenger, 17

    Use of untested Ebola drugs ethical; 'moral' duty to gather data, says WHO

    Use of untested Ebola drugs ethical; 'moral' duty to gather data, says WHO
    Using untested Ebola treatments to help quell the current unprecedented outbreak in West Africa is ethical, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

    Use of untested Ebola drugs ethical; 'moral' duty to gather data, says WHO

    First Nations health officials to start salmon testing after B.C. mine spill

    First Nations health officials to start salmon testing after B.C. mine spill
    First Nations health officials are preparing to test salmon near the site of a massive mine tailing spill in British Columbia amid fears in aboriginal communities that fish from affected lakes and rivers aren't safe to eat.

    First Nations health officials to start salmon testing after B.C. mine spill