Over three decades ago in Ottawa, there was a municipal government push toward accessibility for the disabled. Sidewalks were lowered at intersections to accommodate wheelchairs, elevators were mandated in all public buildings as were ramps. This approach to life came with onerous expenses in some cases, but no matter: Compassion is costly. These were all thought to be progressive and humane approaches to living in a community that cared. They were also approaches to community living that came from the left of the political spectrum.

The Ontario Human Rights Code states that every person in Ontario has the right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities, without discrimination because of a disability. Every province has a similar statement and of course, this protection exists federally.

Oddly enough, this equality may be the very thing that disabled people end up using to ensure they have access to death on their terms.

The left and the right have taken odd turns in recent years. Those advocating for the disabled and the elderly are now seemingly on the right, standing firm against assisted death even when it’s deceptively cloaked in palliative care. Especially when it’s deceptively cloaked in palliative care.

It is worth asking whether progressives are on the right now.

Compassion is still being meted out, but as always, compassion is costly. There is a personal cost to accompanying and accommodating someone who needs assistance. But true compassion affirms the dignity of every person, regardless of cost.

Of course debates about left and right and compassion are fraught with difficulty–everyone is playing the compassion card. But it used to be that the left said “to heck with the cost,” in order to achieve compassion. Maybe some still do.

As Canada considers legalizing assisted suicide, we ought to be ever reminded that killing is not a compassionate measure, no matter what side of the political spectrum presents the option.

The frightening prospect of legalized euthanasia seems to be coming at Canadians like a tidal wave.

It has already happened in Quebec this summer when euthanasia was legalized thanks to the efforts of Ms. Hivon.

“The approach we took was one of health care. We should not leave anybody suffering at any stage, so why would it be okay at the end of life” she is quoted as saying in a Globe and Mail article on October 9th. “Our bill is about people who are ill and who are suffering and who need to have their pain alleviated.”

Unfortunately “alleviating suffering” for Ms. Hivon is synonymous with murder.

Yesterday the Supreme Court heard testimonies on why assisted suicide should or should not be a human right.

Government lawyers defending the Criminal Code prohibition of euthanasia were grilled by the Supreme Court Justices. According to one source, Joe Arvay for the Carter side (read pro-assisted suicide/euthanasia) had the court’s ear a bit too much.

In a recent Globe article, Prof. Jocelyn Downie a known, avid pro-euthanasia advocate: “The issue of provincial jurisdiction is squarely in front of the court.”

If the Supreme Court does rule that the Criminal Code prohibition against assisted suicide is unconstitutional, Prof. Downie says that the federal government will then “know what it can and cannot do in drafting the new legislation that will be necessary.” Simply put, the Federal Government won’t have a leg to stand on and euthanasia/assisted suicide will be the order of the day.

Canadian law regarding pre-born life is such a mess. I hope to dig into this at some point, and go beyond the regular discussions on the Criminal Code.

The “Costco case” demonstrates again how our laws pertaining to unborn children are convoluted and unclear:

A tragic accident that claimed the lives of two children in London, Ont., this past summer has now been thrust into the national spotlight. On July 25, a vehicle driven by Ruth Burger crashed into a Costco, striking a young family. Addison Hall, six, died as a result of her injuries. Danah McKinnon-Bozek, who was eight months pregnant at the time, and her three-year-old daughter Miah Bozek, were also injured. Danah was rushed to hospital for an emergency C-section, but her infant daughter died about a week following the accident.

Ms. Burger was initially charged with two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, but only one count of criminal negligence causing death. Late last week, London police laid an additional charge of criminal negligence causing death, relating to the death of Ms. McKinnon-Bozek’s infant Rhiannon.

The law is clear: Section 223(2) of the Criminal Code states that “a person commits homicide when he causes injury to a child before or during its birth as a result of which the child dies after becoming a human being.” This applies to the death of any child who could live outside the mother, even for a brief time.

I hope the family finds some very small measure in comfort in this new charge being laid. In law, their daughter and their loss is being recognized.

Read the rest of Andre Schutten and Mike Schouten’s article here.