TORONTO, November 28, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Campaign Life Coalition president Jim Hughes has issued an urgent appeal for citizens to contact the Attorney General, Mr. Rob Nicholson, asking him to safeguard Canadian law against assisted suicide and euthanasia, which is under attack from a court case in British Columbia.
On November 14th, the Supreme Court of British Columbia began hearing the Carter vs. Attorney General of Canada case. The suit was launched by the BC Civil Liberties Association on behalf of the family of Kay Carter, who died by assisted suicide at the Swiss Dignitas suicide center in January 2010, claiming that Canada’s provisions against euthanasia and assisted suicide are unconstitutional since they violate the “right” to die.
“Let me be clear. When we say ‘euthanasia’ and ‘assisted suicide’ we are not talking about pulling the plug on someone who is being kept alive artificially, with no hope of recovery,” Hughes explained.
“When you hear the terms ‘euthanasia’ and ‘assisted suicide’, we are talking about lethally injecting people. Legalizing euthanasia will empower doctors to kill their patients. That is, to murder them.”
“If the Court sides with the plaintiff,” Hughes observed, “the culture of death will further envelop and suffocate our nation in ways that are hard to believe, but predictable.”
A video accompanies Hughes’ appeal that shows how the legalization of euthanasia & assisted suicide in some European countries has led to killing the elderly without consent and to the euthanasia of children. “A slippery slope exists and has already played out as a nightmare in countries that chose to legalize,” Hughes said.
“We anticipate that the BC court decision will arrive in mid-January, and then it will go to the Appeals Court. Concerned citizens can’t wait for this case to wind its way through the appeals process! Your voice must be heard now!”
“Flood the office of Stephen Harper’s Justice Minister and Attorney General, Mr. Rob Nicholson, with your concerns. Say you want him to appeal this case all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, if necessary.”
Hughes noted that legislators have the right to push back against unelected, activist judges who attempt to circumvent legislation by declaring exciting laws against euthanasia and assisted suicide unconstitutional, or declaring that euthanasia is a form of medical treatment.
“Please email the Attorney General at [email protected], and ask him to safeguard the law which protects us against assisted suicide and euthanasia,” Hughes exhorted. (NOTE: the video text given to Hughes included the incorrect email address. The correct address is instead shown on the screen.) “Not only that, but ask him to send a strong message to our judges by making a public pledge to fight against any court ruling that would legalize this form of homicide, including invocation of the Notwithstanding Clause as a last resort.”
Concerned citizens can add their names to a petition launched by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition of Canada urging the Attorney General of Canada to make the strongest possible opposition to the legalization of euthanasia and/or assisted suicide in Canada.
The EPC’s petition is available here in two formats, a downloadable PDF format and an online petition. Both formats will be sent to the AG.
The printed petition is available in French and English and can be downloaded from the EPC website here.
The online petition is available here.
The paper petitions need to be returned to EPC at the address on the petition by December 31, 2011.
Contact the Attorney General of Canada, Mr. Rob Nicholson, directly by email here ([email protected]) or by phone at 613-995-1547.
Other contact information for reaching Rob Nicholson can be found here and here:
Watch the video of CLC President Jim Hughes’ appeal here.