Veterans minister rebuffs calls to resign amid assisted dying discussion scrutiny
Global News
MacAulay has come under fire due to continued benefits backlogs, forcing veterans to wait an average of 43 weeks for disability claim decisions.
Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay is pushing back on calls for him to resign following scrutiny over a departmental employee discussing medical assistance in dying with a veteran.
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is investigating the issue, MacAulay said, and “at this time” has only found “one, isolated case” of such a conversation occurring.
However, even that one incident is “totally and completely unacceptable,” MacAulay told The West Block’s Mercedes Stephenson in an interview, aired Sunday.
Sources told Global News a VAC service agent brought up medical assistance in dying (MAID), unprompted, in a conversation with the combat veteran, who was seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury. Global News is not identifying the veteran who was seeking treatment.
Multiple sources told Global News the combat veteran never raised the issue, nor was he looking for MAID, and that he was deeply disturbed by the suggestion. Those sources and VAC have told Global News the discussion took place, with VAC confirming it is investigating the incident.
Sources close to the veteran say he and his family were disgusted by the conversation, and feel betrayed by the department mandated to assist veterans. The sources said the veteran was seeking services to recover from injuries suffered in the line of duty, and had been experiencing positive improvements in his mental and physical health. They say the unprompted offer of MAID disrupted his progress and has been harmful to the veteran’s progress and his family’s well-being.
“A veteran can bring up what they wish. But…if some veteran brings (MAID) up, (VAC employees) are instructed to bring it to their supervisor,” MacAulay told Stephenson.
“That’s what the situation is and will continue to be. But the staff needs to know that, and they will.”
Dashcam video shows the wild scene as a vehicle crashed into two parked cars at a high speed on Shaunslieve Drive in Bedford.
City of Wetaskiwin officials have issued a statement on the decision to ban Mayor Joe Branco from city hall — but it does little to clarify the ongoing situation.
An Abbotsford woman who was sexually abused as a child is speaking out after suffering years of abuse at the hands of her stepfather, starting at the age of just 12 years old.
Technology Minister Nate Glubish says such images, known as deepfakes, can cause people serious harm and that changing the law should create a new layer of protection.
Renters in Quebec may soon have final say over whether they're allowed to keep pets in their homes following a legal ruling that no-pet clauses in leases violate Charter rights.
Alberta RCMP say they have located a Grey 2022 Ford F-150 involved in the fatal highway shooting of an Edmonton man earlier this month. The suspect remains at large.
Education Minister Paul Calandra, however, said he won't use the notwithstanding clause if he moves to eliminate trustees in Ontario.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would order federal immigration agents to airports to assist TSA. Canadians landing the U.S. should be prepared.
Three overpasses in Saskatoon have been hit in the past three weeks, with charges announced against the driver in the first incident.
Auditor General Karen Hogan says there are critical weaknesses in the integrity controls for the International Student Program.
Return trips by Canadian residents from the U.S. fell 22 per cent in January compared with a year earlier, according to the latest data.
Three byelections are being held on April 13 and the results could have an impact on both the makeup of Parliament and how long it lasts.
Ontario's provincial members of parliament are heading back to Queen's Park Monday, as the legislature sits for the first time since December.