REGINA — A group previously condemned by B.C. MLAs for its “harmful discrimination” against the transgender community is lobbying Saskatchewan to modify physician-assisted death legislation and “limit or regulate access to medical transitions for minors.”
The Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA) has registered to lobby the Saskatchewan government on health-care policies related to medical assistance in dying (MAID) and gender-affirming treatment for youth.
ARPA is a Christian advocacy group that describes itself in a lobbying filing as having a mission “to educate, equip, and encourage Reformed Christians to political action and to bring a biblical perspective to our civil government.”
According to the Saskatchewan lobbyist registry, ARPA is targeting multiple government institutions in its lobbying campaign, including the ministries of mental health and addictions, education, seniors, health and justice.
The group registered as a lobbyist in Saskatchewan on April 7 and is advocating for “policies that seek to limit or regulate access to medical transitions for minors” and “the introduction or modification of provincial MAID legislation, regulations or policies.”
ARPA has extensively lobbied other governments in Canada in opposition to abortion, sexual orientation and gender identity education and other issues, but this is the first time the group has registered to lobby in Saskatchewan.
In October, B.C. MLAs voted to condemn ARPA for its anti-abortion advocacy and “harmful discrimination” against the transgender community.
MAID is currently available to anyone in Saskatchewan who meets the criteria set out in the Criminal Code of Canada, such as being 18 or older, having a grievous and irremediable diagnosis, being in a steady state of irreversible decline and being capable of making their own health decisions.
Alberta introduced Bill 18, the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act, in March, which would prevent doctors or nurse practitioners from administering MAID if a patient is unlikely to die within the next 12 months. Doctors and nurse practitioners would also be barred from suggesting MAID as an option to patients — the patient must bring it up first — and from referring out-of-province patients to be assessed for MAID eligibility.
ARPA has opposed the increased access to MAID in Canada and accused the Liberal government under Justin Trudeau of "promoting state-sponsored suicide.” In a March 19 press release, ARPA’s legal counsel, John Sikkema, applauded Alberta’s proposed restrictions and argued that provinces have the right to restrict or prevent the practice. While the law allows doctors to provide MAID, “Parliament is not mandating that provinces provide it, or even permit it,” Sikkema said.
