CALGARY - Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin says any public consternation over physician-assisted dying can't be attributed to a lack of awareness about the issue.
McLachlin fielded audience questions after delivering a talk as part of a humanities and social sciences congress held at the University of Calgary.
She was asked whether a lack of knowledge has contributed to fears about the Supreme Court of Canada's landmark ruling last year on assisted death.
McLachlin said the court has made an effort to make reasons for its decisions accessible, and those in the assisted-dying case were long and detailed, but readable.
The Supreme Court struck down a ban on medically assisted death in February 2015, but gave the new Liberal government an extension until June 6 to craft a new law -- a deadline that's quickly approaching.
McLachlin did not delve into the political wrangling taking place in Parliament on the issue or speak about the looming deadline.
