Canada Extends the Deadline to Expand Assisted Death to Mental Illness Cases

Federal Health Minister Mark Holland listens to a question from a reporter during a news conference, in Ottawa on Dec. 12, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Health Minister Mark Holland announced that his government is extending the deadline to extend eligibility for assisted death to individuals whose sole medical condition is mental illness, saying more preparation is needed for the move.

The minister’s Jan. 29 statement aligns with the findings of a joint parliamentary committee report, released on the same day, which also says the expansion shouldn’t be happening by the current March 17 deadline.

Mr. Holland has not yet announced what the new timeline is.

Changing the timeline for the expansion would require legislative action. The Liberal government had previously implemented a one-year delay in 2023, citing the need for more preparation time for medical providers and provinces.

Reporters asked Mr. Holland on Jan. 29 if his intention was to still move ahead with medical assistance in dying (MAID) for mental illness, but within a longer timeframe.

“That’s correct,” Mr. Holland responded.

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The joint committee’s final report, which was tabled just before the minister’s announcement, pointed out unresolved fundamental issues regarding the expansion. The report highlighted the presence of “conflicting testimony” and recommended that the committee reconvene a year before any potential expansion to assess if adequate progress has been made.

In contrast, Conservative MPs and senators on the committee expressed strong opposition in a dissenting report. They described the potential change as “reckless and dangerous,” urging the Liberal government to reconsider the scheduled implementation in March. The Conservative members are advocating for the abandonment of the expansion plan altogether.

The issue of expanding eligibility for medically assisted death has been the subject of intense debate in Canada. Recent developments and divergent viewpoints underscore the complexity and sensitivity surrounding policy decisions on assisted death, particularly in cases involving mental illness.

Canada has one of the most liberalized medically assisted death systems in the world. In 2022, the country witnessed a 31.2 percent rise in the number of MAID cases. The procedure constituted 4.1 percent of the total deaths in Canada for that year.

Canada’s MAID program has gained international attention in recent years following claims from several Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) veterans who reported being offered MAID without requesting it.

An investigation by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) revealed the first complaint was lodged on July 21, 2022, by a veteran who was seeking treatment for a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress. A department case worker suggested MAID to the veteran.

Another CAF veteran and former Paralympian Christine Gauthier testified before a parliamentary committee in December 2022. Ms. Gauthier, who had been struggling for five years to have a wheelchair ramp installed at her home, stated that she was offered MAID by a VAC employee.

By the end of December 2022, six veterans had reported being offered the procedure after they requested assistance.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.