Hon. Marty Klyne: Thank you. On a different tangent, minister, as Senator K. Wells has stated publicly multiple times, the Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying has not been fair and balanced in how it has studied the question of whether to extend MAID to persons with a mental illness as their sole underlying condition.

Will the Government of Canada support the further continuation of this study so that the committee receives a more balanced view, and/or will the minister send this important question to the Supreme Court of Canada for reference to finally have a definitive legal answer on this complex issue that matters so deeply to Canadians?

Hon. Sean Fraser, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency: Thank you. My view on the business of parliamentary committees, including joint committees in this instance, is that the committees themselves should make these determinations.

I was legitimately interested in hearing the perspective that would emerge through this exercise. I’m watching closely what’s taking place but being very careful not to put my thumb on the scale in any way, shape or form with respect to whatever discussion may take place.

To the extent that members of the committee wish to examine further the issues at play, that is a decision that I believe should rest with the committee and not be dictated to the committee.

At this time, particularly before we understand what the result of that committee study may be, we have not made plans to move forward with a reference question, but I will watch with interest the conclusions of the committee at the end of the study.