NDP justice and health critics made a last-ditch attempt Monday to twist the Liberal government’s arm on C-14, the government’s assisted dying bill, before the House votes on a number of amendments Monday evening.

NDP justice critic Murray Rankin and NDP deputy health critic Brigitte Sansoucy, at yet another press conference on the bill, tried to pile on pressure to amend C-14 by pointing to friction the Liberals had over the weekend over the controversial legislation at their policy convention.

Rankin noted that two former Liberal leaders – Bob Rae and former Prime Minister Paul Martin – have spoken out against the Trudeau government’s insistence it gets passed by June 6.

That’s the day the Supreme Court formally lifts the ban on medically assisted dying in Canada one year after striking it down, meaning that patients with a grievous and irremediable illness will no longer have to go to a judge for approval first.

Over the weekend, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the bill and said it needs to be passed by June 6, Rae and Martin said there won’t be disastrous consequences if the deadline isn’t met, in part because medical regulators have already drafted similar rules across the country.

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould has repeatedly insisted the deadline must be met to ensure safeguards get put in place in time.

The bill had hit other internal resistance in the Liberal party over the weekend as well, which Rankin also brought up. Liberal commission policy chair Wendy Robbins had tried – unsuccessfully — during the Liberal convention in Winnipeg to get an emergency resolution to the floor that called for amendments to C-14.

Rankin accused the Liberal government of fear-mongering by hammering on the need to pass the bill by June 6.

“There is no cataclysmic event that occurs after June 6,” Rankin told reporters. He said there is “no need to rush” a bill that is “patently unconstitutional” because of its restrictive eligibility criteria, and called on the government to consider accepting substantial amendments and refer the bill to the Supreme Court.

Rankin, who will not support C-14 as it stands, has repeatedly criticized the government over the bill’s eligibility criteria – which specify that the patient must be on track to a “reasonably foreseeable” natural death to qualify – something that implies the patient must have a terminal illness. That, according to Rankin, ultimately restricts the scope of the Supreme Court’s Carter decision.

Rankin said the Liberals had rushed the legislation through and have so far “refused” to listen to substantive suggestions.

“The Liberals, with respect, have bungled this entire process.”

Health Minister Jane Philpott meanwhile said Monday the government has been open to suggestions, and warned Parliament is “at risk” of not meeting the June 6 deadline, adding she still hopes to see the legislation put in place as soon as possible.

She told reporters that while provincial medical regulatory bodies have set up guidelines on assisted dying across the country, they’re not consistent, and that she believes “most providers will not feel comfortable proceeding without legislation in place.”

“The Canadian Medical Protective Association has said that it will be advising doctors that they would need to seek legal counsel, so I think it’s fairly easy for people to understand that in that sense, there will be a challenge with patients accessing this care.”

The House votes on a number of amendments this evening at report stage before it moves to third reading, as the government tries to quickly send it off to the Senate.