English

C. A. No. 7413/7416

THE COURT OF APPEAL FOR SASKATCHEWAN

(4 June 1998) — On 19 May 1998, six major organizations of Canadians with disabilities and their families approached the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal today to seek intervenor status in the appeal of Robert Latimer's second degree murder conviction and the sentence imposed. The organizations are: Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL), DisAbled Women's Network Canada (DAWN Canada), People for Equal Participation (PEP), People First of Canada, and Saskatchewan Voice of People with Disabilities (Sask. Voice).

For Immediate Release

May 19, 1998

Six major organizations of Canadians with disabilities and their families approached the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal today to seek intervenor status in the appeal of Robert Latimer's second degree murder conviction and the sentence imposed. The organizations are:

(15 April 1998) By voting down M.P. Svend Robinson's motion on euthanasia on 24 March 1998, Parliament upheld Canada's protection of vulnerable citizens. Motion 123 read, "That a Special Committee be appointed ...to review the provisions of the Criminal Code dealing with euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide and that the Committee be instructed to prepare and bring in a bill..."

(12 February 1998) — "Do Not Resuscitate Orders" raise many concerns for persons with disabilities in medical settings. When a "Do Not Resuscitate Order" (DNR) is placed on a person's medical chart, it means that medical personnel will not intervene in times of medical crisis to save the person's life. As with many other issues, the key factor here is who decides when a DNR order is appropriate. If the individual, or their designate, has made this choice, then a DNR is appropriate.

(5 February 1998) — On 13 January 1998, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), Saskatchewan Voice of Persons with Disabilities, People First Canada, Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL), the DisAbled Women's Network Canada (DAWN Canada), and People in Equal Participation (PEP) agreed to apply jointly for leave to intervene in the Latimer case. Both the Crown and Latimer have informed the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal that they wish to appeal. CCD, Saskatchewan Voice and PEP intervened in Latimer's first appearance before the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.

For Immediate Release

December 17, 1997

News that the Saskatchewan Crown will appeal Robert J. Latimer's two year sentence for murder was welcomed by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), according to its Human Rights Committee spokesperson, Jim Derksen of Winnipeg. Derksen says his group's interest in the appeal stems from fears that the particulars of this case could stand as a precedent endangering the lives of Canadians with disabilities.

(5 December 1997) — In this Latimer Watch, CCD is sharing the reasons that citizens are presenting to the Hon. John Nilson, Attorney General of Saskatchewan, to support an appeal of the sentence that the court handed down to Robert Latimer on 1 December 1997.