Elayne & Howard
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- Published on Wednesday, 27 April 2016 13:00
- Written by editor
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Dear PAOV,
I have known Elayne for five years now. Elayne is a grandmother who suffers from the late stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), and in 2011 Elayne shared her deeply personal story with the courts. Since then, she has been the voice for so many seriously ill Canadians, and her husband Howard has been right there at her side.
When the federal government tabled its long awaited bill on assisted dying, it should have been a moment for Elayne & Howard to celebrate the progress that their courage has made possible.
Instead, the overly restrictive legislation has left them bitterly disappointed.
In Howard's words
"Your Bill C-14 is an insult to those who struggle with and endure interminable illnesses that create pain and suffering but which do not cause death.
It is shocking that you would allow your Department of Justice lawyers to put forward a draft that flies in the face of both the spirit and the substance of Justice Smith’s decision, affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada.
The people you seek to deprive of a dignified physician-assisted death are those who may need it the most and who are not in the least bit “vulnerable". - Howard Shapray
Howard and Elayne let us know how much they would like to be in Ottawa with the BCCLA as we fight back against this wrong-headed bill.
But they can't be with us in Ottawa. Elayne can no longer travel.
Seriously ill Canadians have already borne the great burden of fighting for their rights. The federal government should never have put these individuals in a position to have to return to court.
But they have, and so our fight is not over yet.
Howard has sent his letter, and I need you to contact your MP too. Click here for ways to reach them.
We have come so far. We must do everything we can to avoid sending suffering Canadians back to court to fight for their rights. We need to act now to see this law amended.
Thank you for your help,
Grace Pastine,
BCCLA Litigation Director
P.S. The best chance for amendment happens next week. I need you to reach out to your MP today.
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