Conservatives continue filibuster of medical assistance in dying bill

Conservative leader Erin O'Toole says his party will continue to debate legislation in the Commons, which must pass both houses of Parliament before Dec. 18 to meet a Supreme Court deadline.

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says his party is prepared to stay in Parliament around the clock to push for more debate on a new bill on medical assistance in dying.

He says the court-imposed Dec. 18 deadline for legislation to be in place shouldn't get in the way of protecting those who could be harmed by the new rules for assisted death.

O'Toole suggested in the House of Commons today that the Liberals may say they will ask for another extension on implementing a new law.

Federal Justice Minister David Lametti's office says that's not the case and that the Liberals remain focused on getting the bill passed on time.

Last fall, the Quebec Superior Court struck down a provision that allowed assisted dying only for Canadians whose natural death was reasonably foreseeable.

The original ruling gave the government six months to find a workaround but the court twice granted the government an extension.

Conservatives continue filibuster of medical assistance in dying bill

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