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Alarm over assisted death: Letters to the editor Dec. 5, 2020

The goal in a humane society is to put an end to the suffering, not the sufferer, writes Denise Lalonde.

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Death on demand is not the answer

Re: “Death on demand coming, if Bill C-7 is made into law” by Fr. Raymond de Souza (SP, Nov. 23)

Fr. de Souza says “with no one watching, who will protect the vulnerable.” Our federal government hopes to have Bill C-7 passed by mid-December. This would up the game from the 2016 version of MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying).

Not surprisingly, it was a slippery slope, such that with the passing of this current bill the injection could happen the day of the request. What next? We know it will not end there.

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The goal in a humane society is to put an end to the suffering, not the sufferer. We need more help in dealing with the various kinds of suffering be it physical, mental, psychological, etc.

Yes, it will cost more, but can we put a price on life? Unfortunately, some of those requesting this end to their life are doing so because they feel they are a burden to their family, society and the health system. How sad.

And, how ironic. Our government is spending big bucks with the pandemic, all to help keep people alive and safe. Yet, there is a rush to get the bill through before too many people have a chance to become informed and intervene.

We, Canadians, need to look out for each other, because it’s right and because it may be someone close to us who will, on a bad day, think they want to end it all.

Please contact your MP before it’s too late.

Denise Lalonde
Tisdale

Canada should support Azerbaijan

The Trudeau government’s decision to suspend arms exports to Turkey over the latter’s support for Azerbaijan is hypocritical, unnecessary and counterproductive.

Azerbaijan is a key ally for the West in the Caucasus and an important middle power in the region. By alienating one of the few countries in the region in which Muslims, Christians and Jews can coexist peacefully, as witnessed by Israel’s support for Azerbaijan throughout the recently concluded Azerbaijan-Armenia war, the Canadian government has put itself on the wrong side of history.

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Four United Nations declarations called for the disputed territory that was fought over to be returned to Azerbaijan. However, it was not until the Azerbaijanis took military action and used advanced drones from both Israel and Turkey that they regained a significant part of Nagorno-Karabakh.

While the ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia strengthens the role of both Russia and Turkey in the Caucasus, and reduces the role of other mediators like the U.S. and France which can be detrimental to Canada’s interests in the long term, Canada’s suspension of arms to Turkey, a NATO member — as we continue to supply arms to countries that have caused a humanitarian disaster in Yemen — looks weak, counterproductive and unnecessary.

Some consistency from the Trudeau government will be appreciated as we look toward a debt-laden future for our country.

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Saskatoon

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