Manitoba Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen is paying close attention to the federal government's bill on assisted dying. The proposed law passed Second Reading in Parliament last week and has now gone to the Senate for its input. Goertzen says he has heard from a number of groups and individuals who have concerns. He has not yet decided how the province will respond.

"We're obviously going to wait to see what happens on the legislation that comes out of Ottawa. But there have been working groups and the various stakeholders who would be affected, obviously medical professionals have been working together over the last number of months since the Supreme Court ruling, and in particular, we've heard many who are within the medical profession who say that they want to be protected if they have a conscientious objection to being part of these procedures. This is something that we support."

Goertzen says another key concern is that vulnerable people be protected under the assisted dying law. He is also hopeful that the federal government will also work to improve palliative care in Canada so that people do not feel the need to ask for assisted dying.

"Palliative care is something that, at the end of life, can provide comfort, it can provide grace for people but, in particular, it can provide dignity. It is an important part of this discussion in terms of how can we make that system better so that those who are going through an end of life experience, that is difficult and could be painful, feel that they have the option for dignity and for respect in those last days."

Goertzen says all of these issues are still playing out in Parliament and he is closely watching the situation.