Federal Justice Minister Peter MacKay says the government is looking at existing private members' bills and what other governments are doing and will also consult widely before responding to last week's landmark Supreme Court of Canada ruling on doctor-assisted suicide. MacKay has told The Canadian Press he's most concerned about how the ruling, and the government's ultimate reaction, will affect the disabled population. (The unanimous high court decision gave federal and provincial governments 12 months to draft charter-compliant legislation that would allow doctors to help people die or face having no law at all. The government has the right to use the notwithstanding clause -- a section of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms allowing Parliament or a legislature to override certain judicial rulings. But MacKay suggests the clause won't be used.)

Date: 2015-02-10
Placeline: OTTAWA.
Source: The Canadian Press
Length: 25 seconds

Transcript Prediction: << I have particular concern as I know others share of for the voice of the disabilities community and they have for a long time expressed concern about this particular direction and so it will certainly take the time to sit and wait very carefully the balance they were in for some concern >>

Earbank_2015-02-10_Assisted-Dying-MacKay_3272