Jessie Parkinson, National Chairperson of Social Justice, October 27, 2025
TO: Parish Council Presidents and Secretaries
CC: Diocesan Presidents and Secretaries, Provincial Presidents and Secretaries, National Officers (for information), National Life Member Liaison
URGENT
In June 2025, the member of parliament (MP) for Cloverdale—Langley City introduced private member’s Bill C-218: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying) to add the following exclusion:
(2.1) For the purposes of subsection (2), a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition.
Bill C-218 is an important bill in ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable populations from choosing to die because Canada does not have adequate resources to treat mental illness. It is scheduled for second reading in the House of Commons on December 5th.
In the second reading, the MP who put forward the bill outlines the principles of the bill, followed by a debate and a vote. If the vote passes, the bill is referred to a committee that studies it and may hear witnesses and make amendments before referring it back to the House for a third and final reading. Second reading is a crucial step in the process, as if the vote is unsuccessful, it dies there.
Please inform members and request that they urgently contact their MPs to ask them to support Bill C-218. Letters, emails and telephone calls are important.
Many online resources to help with this are available, including the following:
- Contact Us, House of Commons
- “How to Write to Your MP,” Results Canada
- Personal Letter Writing Guide (#173), The Catholic Women’s League of Canada
Please take the time to call or write. If MPs do not hear from Canadians, they cannot represent us in the vote.
Your sister in the League,
Jessie Parkinson
National Chairperson of Social Justice