Pierre Poilievre states clear position on MAiD at December 30 press conference

Poilievre covered a range of topics in his December 30 press conference. Image: CPAC

Pierre Poilievre gave a clear “no” in response to a reporter’s question on expanding Medial Assistance in Dying (MAiD) to people who suffer solely from mental illness in a December 30 press conference.

Reporter Question: “Okay, and the government has announced a delay while it works to make changes to the law around medically assisted dying to allow those with mental illness access to the program. Do you think medically assisted dying should be accessible to Canadians who suffer solely from mental diseases?”

Poilievre’s Response: “No, and what Conservatives do not believe that medical assistance in dying is a solution for mental illness. Conservatives believe that we should provide mental health care to people to improve their quality of life help heal the psychological wounds that are afflicting them, rather than giving up; and we’re very worried about the slippery slope that we see.

“We see now cases where, you know, certain groups are advocating that small infants be given medical assistance in dying. Obviously, they could not consent to that.

“We see our Veterans Department telling our heroes that instead of getting the services that they deserve, they should consider ending their own lives. We have the CEO of the Mississauga Food Bank, saying that this she has people coming in to her facility asking not for food, but for help ending their lives because not because they’re sick, but because they can’t afford to eat, and I believe that we’ve gone down a slippery slope. And this has been extended far beyond its original purpose.

“My belief is that we should try to give people lives that they believe are worth living, rather than telling them to give up on life altogether. Life is a precious thing. And government should work with people to give them a life worth living rather than telling them to give up.”