OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Some MPs are not happy senators have made a fundamental change to the government’s assisted dying bill.

Members of the Upper Chamber voted last night to remove a controversial piece of the legislation.

The amendment basically means that people who aren’t near death but are still enduring intolerable suffering from a grievous medical condition can have access to assisted death.

The change isn’t sitting well with interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose. “It is frustrating that a Senate which is accountable to no one and is unelected is making changes.”

This is a setback for the Trudeau government because now the bill has to be sent back to the House of Commons for more debate and vote. The justice minister has already indicated she would not appreciate a change like this.

Ambrose adds MPs could reject the amendment. “I think it’s important that we look at this bill when it comes back from the Senate and if we have to change it, then we’ll change it.”

If MPs reject the changes, the bill will keep being volleyed back and forth until both levels of parliament can agree.

The senate still has dozens of other amendments to debate before holding a final vote.