A group of people were seen picketing outside MP Bernadette Jordan’s offices in Bridgewater this afternoon.
They’re protesting against Bill C-14 which will provide access to assisted dying for terminal patients.
Alicia Rice says the language in the bill is too vague and leaves vulnerable people at risk.
“A win would be that she would come and say ‘Yeah. I can see that this is really dangerous and I’m going to vote against it at every phase,’” she says, “and bring forth new legislation that will make it still illegal in Canada.”
Rice says at the very least government should take more time to research other countries who’ve implemented similar legislation.
She adds more funding for palliative care could make terminal illness feel less hopeless.
Meanwhile, Bernadette Jordan says she will be supporting the bill.
The South Shore-St. Margaret’s MP came out to speak with the protesters but says she doesn’t agree with their concerns.
“We’ve covered things like, you know, the biggest concerns of protecting the most vulnerable people,” she says. “Those were really big concerns and we looked at all that whenever [sic] we were drafting this legislation.”
Jordan agrees that palliative care should be available to anyone who chooses that option.
However she says it only goes so far to help those who are dying in pain.
Jordan says ultimately this legislation is something Canadians are asking for and she has no intention of changing her vote.
