“...My organization [Dying with Dignity Canada] and I enjoyed a close and respectful working relationship with your predecessor (Justice Minister David Lametti] who very ably managed profoundly important changes to the Criminal Code of Canada concerning the legalization of medical assistance in dying...” Letter from CEO Helen Long to Justice Minister Arif Virani
In the above excerpt from a letter dated July 28, 2023 to Justice Minister Arif Virani, CEO Helen Long informs us that Dying with Dignity has a close and respectful working relationship with the Justice Department.
This is clearly the case: between May 13, 2022 and April 19, 2024, Dying with Dignity Canada wrote a total of 14 letters and emails to David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and to Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Most of these letters were from CEO Helen Long. In late 2023, Minister Arif Virani met with Helen Long. DYDC has also met with previous ministers.
This is troubling. The very people who advocate for euthanasia—who receive millions in donations for their euthanasia advocacy ($3,791,596 in 2024); who have a whopping $9,231,137 in assets, of which $7,370,174 is apparently not needed operationally as it is stashed away in long term investments; whose CEO earns between $200,000 and $249,999 a year—these people are advising, meeting with, and cosying up to the politicians responsible for euthanasia law. Of course politicians are lobbied all the time, nothing new here. But to have such a close relationship, and to have this much influence on a law that permits the killing of the sick, the aged, the disabled, we should be deeply troubled that this “charity” has such a stranglehold on euthanasia law.
The anti-euthanasia lobby does not have anything near this kind of financial ability to spend this much time and effort fighting against euthanasia, as Dying with Dignity has fighting for euthanasia.
Helen Long likes to finish her letters with this:
“Dying With Dignity Canada's national office is located within Treaty 13, the traditional home of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. Our presence on this land is not to be taken for granted. We are grateful for the opportunity to share, meet, collaborate, live, and work on this land. It is our responsibility, as both an organization and as individuals, to learn about the current and historical effects of settler-colonialism in Canada.”
I think it would be a good thing if Helen Long and Dying with Dignity would hand over the land they are occupying to the Mississaugas of the Credit, to the Anishnabeg, to to the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and to the Wendat peoples—as a good will gesture. Even better, she could hand over the $7,370,174 in long term assets. Words are cheap.
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A few of Long's letters to the politicians she lobbies. The full ATIP here.
December 21, 2022
Honourable David Lametti MP, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Honourable Carolyn Bennett MP, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
Dear Ministers Lametti and Bennett:
Last week, the Federal Government announced its intention to table legislation in the new year requesting an - as of yet - unspecified extension to the sunset clause, which governs the coming into force of the medical assistance in dying (MAID) law as it pertains to applicants with mental disorders as a sole underlying medical condition. Originally, the delay of Bill C-7 for this category of requesters was to have expired on March 17, 2023, at which point these individuals could have made an application for MAID.
Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) accepts the Government’s stated rationale for this postponement, namely that: “delaying eligibility for persons whose sole medical condition is a mental illness would allow more time for dissemination and uptake of key resources by the medical and nursing communities.” However, DWDC urges the Federal Government to work to ensure that this delay is as short as reasonably possible.
There is a small number of people across Canada who have been afflicted with severe mental health disorders, the irremediable character of which has resulted in longstanding suffering. They have been waiting patiently to be permitted to exercise some agency in their end-of-life treatment options. The passage of Bill C-7 brought hope to this group of severely afflicted sufferers that they might be granted equivalent autonomy, consistent with their Charter rights and protections, in applying and being assessed for MAID. A delay at this point will likely seem unjust to them as it further prolongs their wait and their suffering. We should keep in mind that only a small subset of this group will ever likely proceed with a MAID assessment, let alone be approved to receive MAID.
As you know, 65% of people across Canada, when polled, have indicated their belief that access to MAID, for those whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental disorder, ought to be allowed if they meet all other criteria and have the capacity to provide informed consent.
In closing, permit me to underscore a couple of key points which I believe that Members of the Government should keep top of mind going forward as they work with their colleagues in other parties and the Senate to advance this important piece of legislation:
> We must avoid exacerbating the dated belief that mental illness is somehow qualitatively different and less deserving of compassion than physical illness;
> Assessment by at least one assessor with expertise in the condition is an important procedural safeguard for clinicians who may be faced with a mental health MAID applicant;
> Canadian clinicians and psychiatrists demonstrate an inherent degree of instinctual caution. They have cared for patients with mental disorders in their practice and have the experience and tools to deal with the complexities and challenges arising in such cases. Clinical practice evolves overtime and the prudence, professionalism, and concurrent education of Canadian practitioners suggests a careful and rigorous approach to such cases would be the norm;
> MAID providers - nurse practitioners and physicians - have the highest possible incentive not to stray beyond the bounds of the Criminal Code or to possibly breach the laws and practice standards of their regulatory bodies in that they would be subject to criminal charges and lose their medical license;
> The existing conscience rights provision protects any health care professionals who are opposed to, or uncomfortable with, assessing for or providing MAID; and
> Evidence from overseas indicates that the number of approved mental health applicants for medical assistance in dying would likely be extremely small.
We hope you and your ministerial colleagues with responsibilities for different aspects of the MAID law and its implementation will bear in mind these important points as you consider the length of the delay to be adopted and the attendant suffering of people across Canada.
If the sunset clause is extended, we strongly urge those tasked with reviewing the safeguards to work swiftly and compassionately to ensure autonomy for those impacted by this announcement.
Thank you, Ministers, for the work you have done to formulate a balanced and humane approach to the legal framework governing medical assistance in dying.
We hope you and your ministerial colleagues with responsibilities for different aspects of the MAID law and its implementation will bear in mind these important points as you consider the length of the delay to be adopted and the attendant suffering of people across Canada.
If the sunset clause is extended, we strongly urge those tasked with reviewing the safeguards to work swiftly and compassionately to ensure autonomy for those impacted by this announcement.
Thank you, Ministers, for the work you have done to formulate a balanced and humane approach to the legal framework governing medical assistance in dying.
Sincerely,
Helen Long CEO
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Sent: Monday, July 31, 2023 10:07 AM
To: Virani, Arif - M.P. <Arif.Virani@parl.gc.ca>
Cc: @dyingwithdignity.ca>
Subject: Congratulations & Reconnecting
Dear Minister Virani,
Sincere congratulations on your well-deserved appointment to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Having enjoyed our discussions in the past, I look forward to being back in touch on the important issue of medical assistance in dying. I know you will have many priorities in the days ahead, but would appreciate the chance to re-connect as your time permits.
I've also attached a letter of congratulations on behalf of our entire organization.
Kind regards, Helen
Helen Long (she/her)
CEO
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July 28, 2023 Honorable Arif Virani
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Dear Minister Virani:
I wanted to send you a brief note congratulating you on your appointment as Canada's Minister of Justice and Attorney General. I know that your tenure as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice in the 42nd and 43rd Parliaments will have prepared you admirably for this role. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you well as you tackle the major legal and legislative issues which the Justice Department is responsible for overseeing.
My organization and I enjoyed a close and respectful working relationship with your predecessor who very ably managed profoundly important changes to the Criminal Code of Canada concerning the legalization of medical assistance in dying. I know that you also were very much involved in those discussions in the context of your membership of the Special Joint Committee on medical assistance in dying in 2021.
I would look forward to an opportunity to meet at some point in the coming months to discuss some of the remaining issues that Canadians believe need to be addressed to ensure we have an enlightened and progressive regime of end-of-life choices for all those who suffer grievously with physical or mental disorders.
I wish you all the very best, Minister, in your new role. Sincerely,
Helen Long CEO
