Ottawa, Canada, Nov 30, 2005 / 22:00 pm
A bill that would legalize assisted suicide in Canada died on the order table Monday when Canada’s Liberal minority government was toppled with a historic vote of non-confidence.
All of Canada’s political parties, except for the Liberals, voted to bring down Prime Minister Paul Martin’s government. On Tuesday, Martin asked the Governor General to dissolve Parliament. Martin’s government had passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in June.
Party leaders have already taken to the campaign trail, and Canadians are expected to go to the ballot box Jan. 23.
Pro-life groups are relieved that bill C-407, the assisted suicide bill proposed by Bloc Quebecois MP Francine Lalonde, would not get to second reading in the House of Commons. But they also fear that another such private member’s bill will be presented with the next government. They are encouraging Canadians who are against assisted suicide and euthanasia to voice their opposition and to vote for members of Parliament whose values respect life.