The government has now delayed the expansion of medically assisted death twice. But Canada will not be any more ready for expansion in three years than we are now.
Early in 2023, the federal government introduced legislation to delay the expansion of MAiD for mental illness by one year, to March 17, 2024. Then, recently, the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying recently tabled its report, MAID and Mental Disorders: The Road Ahead. Instead of a delay of one or even two years, the majority of the committee recommended an indefinite delay, until the ministers of health and justice are satisfied “that it can be safely and adequately provided.”
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Just three days after the committee tabled its report, the government responded by introducing Bill C-62, which would delay the expansion of MAiD until 2027.
The committee’s report verified what many Canadians have been saying since the government tried to expand MAiD to those with mental illness in 2021. Tasked with determining the level of preparedness for such an expansion, the majority on the committee acknowledged that “the medical system in Canada is not prepared.” In fact, many concerns raised by the committee indicate that we never will be.
In particular, the committee noted ongoing concerns with determining whether mental illness can ever be considered irremediable, challenges with distinguishing MAiD requests from suicidality, and inadequate protections for vulnerable Canadians. These remain serious concerns that have not been sufficiently addressed.
NDP MP Alistair MacGregor noted, “It feels like on this issue, (the government has) been building the plane while it’s flying mid-air.” Indeed, the preamble to the 2021 legislation, Bill C-7, stated that “further consultation and deliberation are required to determine whether it is appropriate and, if so, how to provide” MAiD for those with mental illness as their sole underlying condition.
After the mental illness expansion was added to Bill C-7 by the Senate in 2021, with little debate and discussion, subsequent government studies have not considered whether to expand MAiD to those with mental illness. Instead, they have continued to recommend expansion without resolving ongoing concerns.
A dissenting report to the recent committee report, from three independent senators, argues that the committee failed to address its mandate because it considered areas outside the federal government’s preparedness criteria. But perhaps it’s time for the government to understand that Canada is not just unprepared for expansion but will never be ready to expand MAiD to those with mental illness.
Canada is not ready to expand MAiD to those with mental illness because assisted suicide should never be offered as a solution for mental illness. Those who suffer from mental illness need help and they need hope. Suggesting that they may need to give up hope and have their doctor end their lives undermines suicide prevention efforts and fails to protect vulnerable Canadians.
As the Conservative members of the committee argued in their supplementary report, “the Liberal government must permanently abandon this expansion of MAiD. Failing to do so will inevitably lead to the premature deaths of vulnerable Canadians who could have gotten better.”
Another delay is not enough. The government should stop the expansion of MAiD entirely, recognizing that we should never offer it to those with mental illness.
The government has now delayed the expansion twice, and we can give them credit for recognizing so many of the concerns. But Canada will not be any more ready in three years than we are now. Canadians can continue to encourage the government to support caring for, not killing, those who suffer from mental illness.
Daniel Zekveld is a policy snalyst with the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA) Canada, a grassroots Christian political advocacy organization.
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Zekveld: Canada will never be ready to expand assisted death to those with mental illness
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10.02.2024
The government has now delayed the expansion of medically assisted death twice. But Canada will not be any more ready for expansion in three years than we are now.
Early in 2023, the federal government introduced legislation to delay the expansion of MAiD for mental illness by one year, to March 17, 2024. Then, recently, the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying recently tabled its report, MAID and Mental Disorders: The Road Ahead. Instead of a delay of one or even two years, the majority of the committee recommended an indefinite delay, until the ministers of health and justice are satisfied “that it can be safely and adequately provided.”
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
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Just three days after the committee tabled its report, the government responded by introducing Bill C-62, which would delay the expansion of MAiD until 2027.
The committee’s report verified what many Canadians have been saying since the government........
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