Justice Minister Sean Fraser announced Wednesday that Canada will not move forward with the planned expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAID) to people whose sole basis is mental illness, scheduled in the Criminal Code for March 2027. He said the government will bring in legislation to extend the exclusion indefinitely. He cited a June parliamentary committee report that recommended an indefinite exclusion, co-signed by Conservative and Liberal MPs, and a review by his department. He said there is not a perfect consensus but this is the right approach at this time. Four senators had called the committee process flawed. Some MAID advocates are unhappy; much of the medical community supports the decision. At least one court challenge to the exclusion is pending in Ontario, CBC reports.
The exclusion has been extended repeatedly since 2021. Making the delay open-ended turns a pause into policy. It also shifts the argument to the courts, where the Charter question is still open.
Nothing changes for people who qualify now. Canadians with a physical condition can still apply. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, provincial crisis lines and mental-health services are available; the federal 9-8-8 line is open at any hour.
Mental illness cannot yet be assessed reliably for irremediability. A responsible government should wait until evidence and systems are ready, and it is right to say so.
An open-ended exclusion may be unconstitutional. People with long-term, treatment-resistant illness are being told their suffering counts less than that of those with a physical condition.
Watch the bill, not the speech. If the legislation keeps the exclusion with no sunset, expect a Charter case that could end up at the Supreme Court. If it carries a review clause, the government is buying time rather than closing the door.
CBC News · Global News · The Globe and Mail · Toronto Life · National Catholic Register · CP24 and CTV News (Oct. 6 preview) · National Newswatch (June committee report) (Oct. 7). Quotes as reported.
Ottawa will not expand assisted dying to mental illness alone. The exclusion stays, with no end date
Justice Minister Sean Fraser said the government will drop the March 2027 expansion and bring in legislation to keep the ban on medical assistance in dying where mental illness is the sole basis.
The federal government has decided not to go ahead with a planned expansion of medical assistance in dying to people whose only condition is a mental illness. Justice Minister Sean Fraser made the announcement on Wednesday in the foyer of the House of Commons, saying Canada has decided not to move forward with the expansion that is scheduled in the Criminal Code. CBC News, Global News, The Globe and Mail and Toronto Life all reported it. The exclusion, in place since 2021 and renewed several times, was due to expire in March 2027. Mr. Fraser said the government will introduce legislation to keep it in force on an indeterminate basis, with a bill expected in the coming weeks.
He tied the decision to a June report of a parliamentary committee that recommended an indefinite exclusion, a recommendation co-signed by Conservative and Liberal members, and to his department's own review. "While there is not a perfect consensus on this issue," he said, "we believe this is the correct approach at this particular time." Four senators had objected to the committee process as flawed. Much of the medical community supports the decision, while some assisted-dying advocates are unhappy, and CBC reports at least one court challenge to the exclusion is pending in Ontario.
The announcement settles a question that has hung over provincial health systems for years. The Conservatives had a private member's bill on the same subject before the House on Wednesday; the outcome of that vote was not available at press time. A single-outlet report of the decision circulated earlier in the week; the minister's own remarks now confirm it.