Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last October, this Assembly passed the Personal Directives Act, which I understand is now in force as of January 1st. Personal directives, which are sometimes referred to as living wills, allow people to give advance instructions about how their personal matters will be handled should they be unable to make decisions for themselves. An individual can provide advanced direction for their medical care and also other personal matters such as where they would live, who would be allowed to visit them and who would make decisions on their behalf. Many people make their wishes known to loved ones and caregivers anyway, but the act will now make it possible for their instructions to be legally binding on health care professionals and family members. The act complements the Powers of Attorney Act, which allows people to leave advanced directions about how their financial matters will be handled if they become incapacitated.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation was welcomed with open arms by advocates for seniors and persons with disabilities as long overdue. It gives individuals dignity and control over their own private matters by allowing them to make critical decisions in advance of becoming incapacitated. A personal directive can also lift the burden of difficult choices from loved ones who need to focus on providing support to the incapacitated person, or on grieving.
For people who are growing older, or who are living with conditions that they know will eventually leave them unable to make decisions for themselves, personal directives can give them the security of knowing that they will be cared for as they would wish. Also, although we don't like to think about it, Mr. Speaker, the fact is that any of us could be suddenly incapacitated by a serious accident or injury. For this reason, any adult, young or old, should seriously consider taking advantage of the new legislation and making a personal directive for themselves, along with a power of attorney.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased this legislation is now in force and, later today, I will have questions for the Minister about how it's being implemented. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause