English

[21 October, 1998]

October 16, 1998

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
250 Front Street West
Toronto, ON M5W 1E6

Attention: Heather Spiller, National Assignment Editor

Dear Ms. Spiller:
Re: Airing of Feature Film—"At the End of the Day"—The Sue Rodriguez Story

[16 October 1998]

(15 October 1998) — Robert Latimer's October appeal to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal will likely put this case in the news once again. Consequently, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities is intensifying its efforts to monitor public discourse on the Latimer case and to present the aspects of the case which would be absent without the involvement of persons with disabilities. It is people with disabilities who have been setting the record straight on the true definition of compassion.

(October 14, 1998 — In this interview, Dr. Wolbring analyzes the social context that has given rise to cases like Latimer and suggests a message that can be promoted to the media to counteract current stereotypes about disability.)

What are the dynamics that people need to point out when doing public education on the Latimer Case?

APPEAL DATE IS 19 OCTOBER 1998

(8 October 1998) — The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal granted joint intervenor status to 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) in the Latimer case. The Court is allowing the intervenors 20 minutes of oral argument. Mr. Bob Richards of the firm McPherson, Leslie and Tyerman will act as legal counsel.

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..."