Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it is heartbreaking people are seeking medical assistance in dying (MAiD) because of the cost of living increasing. .“It deepens my resolve to be there for people,” said Trudeau in a Tuesday video. .The video mocks Trudeau by flashing to a story about him taking a vacation to Jamaica with his family during Christmas. My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion plays in the background on a screechy recorder. .The video starts off with Global News host Dawna Friesen asking Trudeau about the cost of living. Friesen acknowledged Canada is experiencing high inflation and interest rates. .“It’s causing such hardship for people in this country,” said Friesen. .Inflation in Canada was at 6.8% on a year-over-year basis in November, down from a 6.9% gain in October, according to Wednesday data from Statistics Canada. .READ MORE: Inflation in Canada falls to 6.8% in November.Excluding food and energy, prices rose 5.4% on a yearly basis in November, following a 5.3% gain in October. Slower price growth for gas and furniture was offset by higher costs for mortgage interest and rent..Food prices went up by 11.4% in November, compared to this time last year. Food inflation remained broad-based, with grocery prices rising at a faster rate than every other item every month for the past year. .Friesen played Trudeau a segment of Mississauga Food Bank CEO Meghan Nicholls saying people are approaching her about MAiD because of high inflation. .“When I say that this is an emergency in the community, people who are living at the bottom income percentile in our community are talking to us now about taking their own lives because it’s too hard to be poor any longer,” said Nicholls. .Friesen said this segment stunned her. Trudeau said yes. .He called inflation "a global phenomenon." He said it is linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supply chain problems, and the COVID-19 pandemic. .Trudeau went on to say the fact that inflation is hitting Canada less than other countries is not "even a tiny bit of reassurance to any family whose visiting a food bank for the first time or losing hope like that." ."And that's why we had to step up," he said.."And we will continue to step up." .The Canadian government said on December 15 the expansion of the MAiD program to people with mental illnesses might be delayed. .MAiD was set to be expanded in March. .READ MORE: Federal government seeking to delay expansion of medically assisted dying program."We have heard concerns of Canadians and experts about whether the healthcare system will be ready to accommodate MAID requests for persons whose sole medical condition is a mental illness," said Justice Minister David Lametti.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it is heartbreaking people are seeking medical assistance in dying (MAiD) because of the cost of living increasing. .“It deepens my resolve to be there for people,” said Trudeau in a Tuesday video. .The video mocks Trudeau by flashing to a story about him taking a vacation to Jamaica with his family during Christmas. My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion plays in the background on a screechy recorder. .The video starts off with Global News host Dawna Friesen asking Trudeau about the cost of living. Friesen acknowledged Canada is experiencing high inflation and interest rates. .“It’s causing such hardship for people in this country,” said Friesen. .Inflation in Canada was at 6.8% on a year-over-year basis in November, down from a 6.9% gain in October, according to Wednesday data from Statistics Canada. .READ MORE: Inflation in Canada falls to 6.8% in November.Excluding food and energy, prices rose 5.4% on a yearly basis in November, following a 5.3% gain in October. Slower price growth for gas and furniture was offset by higher costs for mortgage interest and rent..Food prices went up by 11.4% in November, compared to this time last year. Food inflation remained broad-based, with grocery prices rising at a faster rate than every other item every month for the past year. .Friesen played Trudeau a segment of Mississauga Food Bank CEO Meghan Nicholls saying people are approaching her about MAiD because of high inflation. .“When I say that this is an emergency in the community, people who are living at the bottom income percentile in our community are talking to us now about taking their own lives because it’s too hard to be poor any longer,” said Nicholls. .Friesen said this segment stunned her. Trudeau said yes. .He called inflation "a global phenomenon." He said it is linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supply chain problems, and the COVID-19 pandemic. .Trudeau went on to say the fact that inflation is hitting Canada less than other countries is not "even a tiny bit of reassurance to any family whose visiting a food bank for the first time or losing hope like that." ."And that's why we had to step up," he said.."And we will continue to step up." .The Canadian government said on December 15 the expansion of the MAiD program to people with mental illnesses might be delayed. .MAiD was set to be expanded in March. .READ MORE: Federal government seeking to delay expansion of medically assisted dying program."We have heard concerns of Canadians and experts about whether the healthcare system will be ready to accommodate MAID requests for persons whose sole medical condition is a mental illness," said Justice Minister David Lametti.
