Despite the Supreme Court of Canada ruling, human life remains the most precious, commonly shared value of Canadians—the right to life and the right to protect life. Life is a sacred trust and is invaluable. This principle has been enshrined in Canadian law since the founding of this country in 1867. It is reaffirmed in both the Canadian and Quebec Charter of Rights. The ruling of the Canadian Supreme Court is a seismic shift away from our most cherished values.
Recent history has taught us the dangers of the idea that certain “lives are less worthy of life.” Beginning with the severely handicapped children in the T4 program in Germany in 1938 under the supervision of medical doctors, the euthanasia of German citizens was extended to the elderly and those suffering from mental illness.
