The CCCB has been recently informed that a consultation involving several modalities is being undertaken by the federal Department of Health on developing a national strategy for palliative care. As the government is in the process of determining and asking for public feedback on the definition of 'Palliative Care', it is imperative that as a Catholic community, you are encouraged to provide a response through the methods below.
With respect to the public modality of the consultation, responses can be sent via the following website, where additional information is also available:
- in English, www.letstalkhealth.ca/palliativecare/faqs#2918
- in French, www.parlons-sante.ca/
You can also respond by email at End.of.life.care_Soins.fin.de.vie@hc-sc.gc.ca.
Please note that the online platform for public consultation will be closed as of Friday, 13 July 2018 as the consultation process winds down.
Previous related statements on palliative care involving the CCCB and/or the Catholic Organization for Life and Family may also assist in the preparation of possible reflections for the public dimension of the inquiry, including:
- 2015 CCCB statement on Supreme Court judgment and physician-assisted suicide, www.cccb.ca/site/eng/media-room/statements-a-letters/4108-statement-by-cccb-president-on-supreme-court-judgment-and-physician-assisted-suicide
- 2016 ecumenical and interfaith letter involving in part the CCCB, www.cccb.ca/site/images/stories/pdf/Ms._Marilyn_Gladu_MP_-_updated_Dec_1_2016.pdf
- 2017 interfaith op-ed involving in part the CCCB, www.cccb.ca/site/images/stories/pdf/Interfaith_Column_on_Palliative_Care_Hill_Times_-_EN.pdf
- 2010 COLF brief on palliative care, www.colf.ca/images/pubs-downloads/LIF-012-E.pdf
- 2014 COLF open letter of support for motion by Charlie Angus, M.P., on a palliative care strategy, www.colf.ca/index.php/en/in-action/item/202-canadian-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-strategy
- 2016 COLF letter to Members of Parliament, www.colf.ca/index.php/en/news/item/281-bill-c-277-an-act-providing-for-the-development-of-a-framework-on-palliative-care-in-canada
Finally, I wish to add that the consultations follows the passing of Bill C-277 and the giving of royal assent on 12 December 2017 to An Act providing for the Development of a Framework on Palliative Care in Canada (the Gladu Bill). The text of the Act is available at www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-277/royal-assent.
In Communion,
Most Reverend Gary Gordon
Bishop of Victoria
