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Many Canadians are grappling with the difficult question of whether or not to legalize assisted
suicide. Supporters who want to make it legal say that changing the law will relieve the
suffering of a lot of people. But the Council of Canadians with Disabilities urges you to
think this through very carefully before making it legal to kill people. Some think assisted
suicide and euthanasia are good ideas because they relieve intolerable physical pain. In
reality, statistics show that in places like Oregon where assisted suicide is already legal,
the majority of people who request death do not do so because of pain. Rather, they say
they don't want to lose their dignity. Further, when asked how their dignity might be lost,
they talk about not being able to get dressed, or go to the bathroom, or get around by themselves.
In other words, they would rather be dead than disabled. Some people with disabilities
do require assistance for the activities of daily living, but that doesn't mean we don't
live lives of dignity. We worry because that "better dead than disabled attitude" gets
applied to us. Sometimes our lives are seen as not being as worthy as those of able-bodied
Canadians. Sometimes people who acquire disabling conditions are struggling with tremendous
adjustments and can't imagine how they can go on. People with disabilities can show them
the way. Canadians with disabilities have experienced wonderful opportunities to be
active citizens in this country, but we've also endured deadly discrimination and devaluation.
We don't want to re-visit the dark days of the past. Legalizing assisted suicide puts
us at risk. The Council of Canadians with Disabilities is Canada's largest national
cross -disability organization. It works to make Canada an accessible and inclusive country
by providing ways for the unique perspectives of persons with disabilities to be heard.
CCD has successfully intervened in the courts on numerous occasions to ensure our rights
are upheld. Now the courts are grappling with a decision that might change the law so that
Canadians with disabilities could be killed by others. We need your help so CCD can represent
our voices in that court challenge. CCD is a not-for-profit organization with charitable
status, and would welcome your donation. My name is Rhonda Wiebe, and I'm a Canadian with
disabilities.