Canada homelessness

The parts between the * are what a poster on Mumsnet wrote - not me.

nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-maid-assisted-suicide-homeless

People I know think that the PM of Canada is a fascist.
It doesn't surprise me.

I find this absolutely horrifying..it reminds me of the way poor people in this country used to be treated as vagrants and somehow morally lacking... I can't imagine anything much worse than being without a safe, warm home..

I've read about assisted suicide being suggested in various contexts in Canada, one where staggeringly a wheel chair user merely wanted access to a ramp outside their home What a horrible illiberal, terrifying society Canada has become. They're right Callistemon, yes all the hallmarks of a fascist, awful man!

It appears to be true.

Also...

One of the more controversial aspects of MAID has been a number of high-profile cases in which Canadians with serious illnesses opted for death only after years of failing to obtain proper medical care. The Research Co. poll found a slim majority of respondents who were fine with this, too; 51 per cent endorsed “inability to receive medical treatment” as sufficient reason for an assisted death.

Canada is notable for its relative lack of checks on the procedure: MAID can be approved and administered by nurse practitioners whereas most countries require the approval of a physician. Canada is also experiencing a skyrocketing rate of MAID deaths well beyond anything experienced abroad.

nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-maid-assisted-suicide-homeless

I find it beyond depressing that people can be so indifferent about the situations and problems of others, that they are happy for them to be euthanised rather than any attempt made to solve the problems.

I wonder if there are not one or two past or present members of our current government that would also find this a favourable solution to the problems outlined, rather than spend money on dealing with them.

I think it proves the 'thin end of the wedge' argument and certainly gives good reason for people to be wary - in spite of all the 'checks' that would supposedly be put in place if euthanasia becomes legal here. "Oh, it would only be for those who were terminally ill or enduring unbearable pain".

Would it?

We're already down the rabbit hole dehumanising a couple of groups of people. Immigrants are most definitely now the "other", and the homeless here are well on the way to being dehumanised.

Who's next - old people? Johnson, allegedly, thought COVID nature's way of dealing with them. Because they are clearly a burden on society in his world.

I think there is a lot of concern about the way right to die is operating in Canada.

TerriBull

I've read about assisted suicide being suggested in various contexts in Canada, one where staggeringly a wheel chair user merely wanted access to a ramp outside their home What a horrible illiberal, terrifying society Canada has become. They're right Callistemon, yes all the hallmarks of a fascist, awful man!

I hadn't heard about the assisted suicides (encouraged suicides?) but it seems to fit in with the views I've heard expressed about Trudeau recently.

It's alarming. I'd always imagined Canada to be a liberal society.

Yeah fully signed up to defending all that faux liberal micro aggression crap. Their stance on trans issues for example. I imagine being on the right side of much of that possibly masks the lack of democracy which has been insidiously wheeled out particularly in the draconian way they have shut citizens out of their own bank accounts for dissenting opinions. We should take note of what's going on there, to the world he appears benign, anything but. Totalitarian control freak!

I can hardly believe what I am reading about this. As Dickens says Who's next - old people?
That question is bound to be asked. What has happened to Canadians that they can hold such cruel attitudes to assisted dying?

Worries me that it will be here next.

Mollygo

Worries me that it will be here next.

I have heard. and seen written comments on SM sites - politely worded - that would leave you in no doubt that should such ideas come 'over here', there will be not a few who would find it a completely acceptable "solution" to some of our problems. Problems that, of course, are not endured by the person recommending such answers.

The idea is becoming firmly fixed in the national psyche that homelessness is very much a problem that the homeless has himself authored.

A successful government, run for the benefit of the elite in society has to work very carefully to contain the animosity of the majority of the population who are neither elite nor wealthy. There are numerous ways to do it, but the safest way for any government - taking into consideration that their numbers are small by comparison - is to set one half of the population against the other. This has been and is being done very successfully in this country. A low-waged security detail will happily soak the bed and belongings of a homeless man. How thin is the division between them - how quickly that security guard could be in a similar position. Yet the conditioning has convinced him to be on the side of the elite. If you can't see the danger in this collective manipulation of thought and feelings, then you are in danger of becoming a target yourself eventually. Desensitise people and make it acceptable to dehumanise your 'brother' who is little more than a problem for society.

... and then propose a solution that, at one time, would've been thought outrageous, but to the brutalised and desensitised mind, will appear acceptable.

How else could it work otherwise?

Answering as a Canadian. I hadn't seen this survey, or the headline, which was published last May. It does shock me, but I wonder who is answering the survey? I tried to find details on how the survey was conducted, and couldn't find any numbers. Was this done for shock value?

Anyone I know is supportive of the MAID (medical assistance in dying) program. There are very strict regulations now in place for this, as well there should be. Currently the program does not recognize mental illness as a terminal illness., so I sincerely doubt the rules would be extended to allow poverty as a terminal illness.
Anyone applying has to be approved by two doctors.

I feel there are safe limits in place that this process is not abused.

In fact lately there was just a case of a man selling 'suicide kits' on line, which caused an uproar and he has been charged with 14 counts of murder, so this is not tolerated in our court system.

And as for our PM being a facist; that's a pretty strong accusation. The Liberal party is centre-left, currently a minority government, with support coming from the left NDP party for most bills passed. Our current Conservative leader is very right of centre, bordering on radical.

I know the PM's popularity is sinking in the polls, and he has made many faux-pas but there is concern that there is no outstanding replacement for him, but the other choices for leader with the other parties could lead to populism (the NDP has never formed a government and most likely will not).

All my Canadian relatives are mad or weird so I can’t say I’m altogether surprised.

CanadianGran Wed 20-Dec-23 18:59:47
Answering as a Canadian. I hadn't seen this survey, or the headline, which was published last May. It does shock me, but I wonder who is answering the survey? I tried to find details on how the survey was conducted, and couldn't find any numbers. Was this done for shock value?

Good point - how was the survey conducted, who by, and who was questioned?

Is it true though that MAID can be approved and conducted by a nurse practitioner? My mind did boggle at that - trouble is you never know if what you are reading are facts or figments of imagination, or a basic truth that's been stretched a bit.

www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-services-benefits/medical-assistance-dying.html

Here's a link to the guidelines. Very strict, and not likely to be allowed for all and sunder.

I looked up the company who did the poll. 1000 participants with a population just surpassing 40 mill. The same number that said assisted suicide would be ok for any reason as for those who stated poverty.

Also, the Globe and Mail is a hard right newspaper, picking out only details of the survey they would like to shock with. How many times has this headline been trafficked around the internet, without people really looking at the source of the details?

And, to be blunt. Suicide is available to all the population, all the time. It is illegal to help someone commit suicide. It is not available medically, except under strict guidelines, as per attached.

I still believe this is a benefit for so many people and families saving suffering at end of life. I am not worried it will be abused, but certainly the policy will be used as fodder politically.

I am afraid whenever I now see the words far right when discussions of this type take place I view it as a way to shut down any discussion.
I have grave concerns around assisted dying around those with disabilities in particular.

The topic of assisted dying does need to be revisted in this country.

Biglouis, are you Canadian?

Galaxy, I am not trying to shut down conversation. Did you read the link for info on MAID, and what concerns you regarding disabilities?

Thank you CanadianGran I was wondering why so many people, here and on Mumsnet, appeared to have missed the fact that a Canadian needs to have a “grievous and irremediable medical condition” to be approved for MAID, and to be reporting the results of a poll (which may or may not have been representative) as if it is policy.

So in this country within the medical profession people with learning disabilities are often seen as less then, this is reflected often in the medical treatment they receive. There are many guidelines in place with regard to equality in terms of medical treatment this doesnt stop the inequalities I have mentioned.

I dont have any views on the validity of the survey, my concerns on this issue are unconnected to the survey.

Galaxy, I do agree that there are many faults with our medical system, and that people with learning disabilities, or issues with understanding english fall through the cracks, and decisions may be made that are not the best for the patient.

However, I'm not worried that people without full understanding will have medical suicide decided for them. At this point it ceases to become MAID and would be considered murder. But I don't know what would be the circumstances if someone who was not mentally capable of making a decision for themselves, and was in pain at the end of life. Could a court decision make someone a trustee for their care? I don't know the answer, nor do I have any idea of how they would be treated now.