Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht’s private members’ motion that makes counselling or aiding or abetting a person to commit suicide an offence passed through the House of Commons Wednesday night without opposition. The vote was 230-0.
“This was for Nadia,” said Albrecht, referring to the death of 18-year-old Nadia Kajouji, whose suicide was encouraged over the internet by a serial predator posing as a kindred spirit and helpful friend.
“This is a great first step,” noted Albrecht, “but still it is only the first step.”
It falls on cabinet to determine if and how to take the advice of the House. “But tonight, the House of Commons demonstrated it would hold broad support for any effort by our government to target internet predators. I hope clarifications to the Criminal Code will occur hand-in-hand with other elements of a national suicide prevention strategy.”
