Exclude mental illness from MAID
Petitioners ask the House to support Bill C‑218 removing MAID eligibility for sole mental‑illness conditions. The government responds that MAID currently excludes sole mental‑illness cases and a parliamentary committee is studying the issue.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would restore a clear safeguard by barring MAID when mental illness is the sole condition, addressing worries about ending lives where supports are lacking.
- The petition prioritizes directing policy and resources toward treatment and mental‑health services instead of expanding assisted‑death eligibility.
- It reflects concern that mental illnesses can be complex and potentially treatable, so excluding sole mental‑illness cases preserves time for assessment and care.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- A categorical ban could deny some competent adults enduring, intolerable suffering from a sole mental illness the option of MAID, limiting personal autonomy.
- Critics say it may prolong suffering or push people toward unsafe, unregulated means if they feel no lawful option exists.
- Some argue the change is premature given an ongoing parliamentary committee review and federal mental‑health investments; policy should await that work.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: WHEREAS • Canadians with mental illness should be provided with treatment and support; • Mental illness is complex and can include suicidal thoughts as a symptom; • The lives of Canadians with mental illness will be at risk when they are eligible for medical assistance in dying (MAID) on the basis of mental illness alone, especially when treatment and support are not readily available. Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to support Bill C-218 which would reverse the law extending eligibility for MAID to people with mental illness as their sole medical condition.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Signed by THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY PATRICIA LATTANZIO Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a complex and deeply personal matter with diverging views across the country. To accommodate these views, the legal framework for MAID balances different interests and societal values. In Canada, eligibility for MAID is limited to adults who meet all the eligibility criteria and procedural safeguards. To be eligible, an individual must have a grievous and irremediable medical condition, meaning that they have a serious and incurable illness, disease or disability; are in an advanced state of irreversible decline; and are experiencing intolerable and enduring suffering. Individuals whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness, however, are not currently eligible for MAID in Canada. The Special Joint Parliamentary Committee on MAID (AMAD) began meeting in March 2026 to study the issue of MAID where mental illness is the sole underlying condition, as required by former Bill C-62, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), No. 2. The work of this committee is crucial to assessing whether we have sufficiently progressed in working out these challenges. The committee is expected to submit its final report to Parliament no later than October 2, 2026. The Government looks forward to reviewing AMAD’s report and recommendations. The Government is committed to supporting the mental health of Canadians. We are working closely with provinces and territories to change the way the healthcare system delivers mental health services to people in Canada. As part of a $200 billion, 10-year investment (starting in 2023-24), the federal government has signed bilateral agreements with all 13 provinces and territories, including $25 billion for shared priorities such as expanding mental health and substance use services. The Government continues to work with all partners and stakeholders to ensure that the safety and security of vulnerable populations and individuals on this deeply personal issue is prioritized.