Jean Vanier, founder of the International Federation of L’Arche communities gave this interview in early November, when he joined the communities of L’Arche Daybreak and L’Arche Toronto in a celebration of the 40th anniversary of L’Arche and the 35th anniversary of L’Arche in Canada. Beth Porter, ed.

For this issue we have departed from our usual interview format to offer a slightly abridged version of a letter from Jean Vanier presented on October 15 to the Parliamentary Committee on Palliative and Compassionate Care. This all-party Committee is conducting consultations across Canada on four distinct but related challenges: palliative care, suicide prevention, elder abuse, and disability issues related to health care. The Committee will submit a report early in 2011 urging specific policy action to address these areas. Ed.