Justin Trudeau defends doctor-assisted death legislation as a 'responsible first step'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the government'scontroversial legislation on doctor-assisted dying as a "responsible first step" Wednesday, as a Commons debate on the bill was pushed back by two days.

MPs were scheduled to start debating bill C-14, the Liberals' legislation on medical assistance in dyingtoday, but the debate has been moved to Friday at 10 a.m. ET.

Trudeau suggested the debate was a matter close to his heart saying itwas "important and "personal."

• Doctor-assisted dying bill restricted to adults facing 'foreseeable' death
• Read the text of billC-14on medical-assisted dying

The Liberal legislation proposes to restrict medicalassistance in dyingto mentally competent adults who have serious and incurable illness, disease or disability.

Bill C-14 also sets out safeguards to protect vulnerable Canadians, but does not include some of the most contentious recommendations from a parliamentary committee, including extending the right to die to "mature minors" and the mentally ill, and allowing advance consent for patients with degenerative disorders.

"Following discussion with opposition House leaders, BillC-14will be debated on Friday," said SabrinaAtwal, a spokeswoman for government House leader DominicLeblanc.

"There was the option to debate it on Thursday, but we did not want to move the NDP opposition day,"Atwalsaid in anemailto CBC News Wednesday.

The government initially said itsMPs would have to toe the party line to ensure the bill's passage, but later reversedits position to allow LiberalMPs to vote according to their conscience.

Some Liberal backbenchers have already said they will be callingfor changes following feedback from their constituents.

'Responsible first step'

"I'mconfident that the reflections on this issue, which are important andin my case personal, willbring us to a place where people recognize that the question isn't whether we ought to legalize medical assistance in dying, but how," Trudeausaid in French on his way into acaucus meeting on Parliament Hill on Wednesday.

In his memoir, Common Ground, Trudeauwrote about his father's struggle with Parkinson's and terminal prostate cancer in the final stages of his life.

"The step we have taken,is a responsible first step," Trudeau said.

Conservative and New Democrat MPs will also be free to vote according to their conscience.

Asked if he was comfortable with the provisions of the bill,Conservative leadership hopefulMaximeBerniersaid he was still consulting with his constituents on the matter.

"I have yet to make a decision," Bernier told reporters gathered on Parliament Hill Wednesday.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcairemerged after caucus saying hewould votein favour of the proposed legislation, but hoped to see the government would refer it back to the Supreme Court.

"I'm going to be voting for the legislation that's been presented by the government," saidMulcairfollowing a meeting with his caucus on Wednesday.

"I do find that there are some shortcomings between that legislation and what was proposed after the joint committee."

To date, theLiberals have not moved tolimit the debate on Bill C-14.