Former paralympian tells MPs veterans department offered her assisted death | 24CA News

A paraplegic former member of the Canadian army shocked MPs on Thursday by testifying that the Department of Veterans Affairs supplied her, in writing, the chance for a medically assisted dying — and even supplied to supply the tools.

Retired corporal Christine Gauthier, who competed for Canada on the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics and the Invictus Games that very same 12 months, spoke earlier than the House of Commons veterans committee and agreed to supply a duplicate of the letter.

“With respect to me, I have a letter in my file, because I had to face that as well,” stated Gauthier, referring to the talk about veterans being supplied the choice of medical help in dying (MAID).

“I have a letter saying that if you’re so desperate, madam, we can offer you MAID, medical assistance in dying,” stated Gauthier who first injured her again in a coaching accident in 1989.

Testifying in French, she stated she has been combating for a house wheelchair ramp for 5 years and expressed her issues in regards to the assisted dying provide in a latest letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“I sent a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and that they [Veterans Affairs] offered me MAID and would supply equipment,” stated Gauthier.

Gauthier didn’t say when the assisted dying provide was made, whether or not it got here from a case supervisor or a veterans companies agent, or when she wrote to the prime minister.

Veterans Minister Lawrence MacAulay revealed final week in testimony earlier than the identical committee that 4 — maybe 5 — circumstances of Canadian army veterans being given the MAID choice by a now-suspended veterans service agent have been referred to the RCMP.

MacAulay urged different veterans who could have had related experiences to return ahead.

Department officers advised 24CA News they could not verify whether or not the incident involving Gauthier represents a brand new case or was one thing the division was investigating already.

During his testimony final week, MacAulay walked the committee by 4 circumstances he stated the division was sure of and that had been uncovered as a part of a file evaluate launched final summer season.

The veterans service agent who allegedly supplied the recommendation has been faraway from her publish whereas the division and the RCMP examine.

“We remain confident that this is all related to one single employee, and it’s not a widespread or a systemic issue,” MacAulay advised the committee final week.

Another veteran who testified Thursday, retired corporal Bruce Moncur, stated that at a gathering two weeks in the past, a deputy minister on the division tried to guarantee an advisory committee that features veterans that what they had been going through was an remoted incident.

“Five days later, we found out through the media that that was all lies,” stated Moncur. “So we’re having, literally, an assistant deputy minister lying to veterans faces five days before the truth comes out. So, I said, it’s disheartening to say the least.”

‘I’m in shock’

A spokesperson for MacAulay stated late Thursday that the advisory committee was given the latest info the division had on the time of the assembly.

New Democrat MP Rachel Blaney, a member of the committee, stated she was shaken by what she heard on Thursday.

“I just want to extend my deepest apologies,” she advised Gauthier. “I just, I am in shock. And I thank you for bringing this reality [to the committee].”

The query of what’s going on at Veterans Affairs, and whether or not the Liberal authorities has a deal with on the issue, was put earlier than the prime minister throughout a media availability Thursday.

Trudeau tried reassurance, saying the staff in query not have contact with veterans. He additionally acknowledged that these circumstances match inside a bigger debate over the enlargement of medically-assisted dying in Canada to incorporate these with psychological sickness.

That might turn out to be an choice subsequent spring.

“The issue of medical assistance in dying is a deeply personal, extraordinarily difficult choice that individuals and families need to make in the most thoughtful and best supported way possible,” Trudeau stated.

“We understand that making sure we are respecting people’s rights and their choices, at the same time as we protect the most vulnerable, is a very important but challenging balance to establish.”