Block MAID expansion to mental illness
Petitioners ask the Government to support Bill C-218 to prevent expansion of medical assistance in dying to people with mental illness and stop the planned March 17, 2027 expansion.
Why we would sign this petition
- It prevents MAID eligibility for people whose sole underlying condition is a mental disorder, prioritizing suicide prevention and protecting vulnerable individuals.
- It redirects policy toward expanding and improving mental-health supports and access instead of offering assisted dying for mental illness.
- It asks Parliament to halt the scheduled March 17, 2027 expansion, creating time to strengthen supports or reassess the policy.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- It removes an option for some individuals who consider MAID a legitimate choice, limiting patient autonomy in end-of-life decisions.
- It may deny access to people with treatment-resistant, enduring psychological suffering who view their condition as irremediable; tailored safeguards could address risks without a categorical ban.
- Using prohibition rather than immediate investment risks delaying practical improvements in mental-health care; opponents may prefer targeted safeguards plus funding.
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 Whereas: Medical assistance in dying will expand to Canadians with mental illness on March 17, 2027, unless Parliament intervenes; Parliament considers it a priority to ensure that supports are in place for the mental health of everyone in Canada; Vulnerable Canadians must be given suicide prevention instead of suicide assistance; Medical assistance in dying risks normalizing suicide as a solution for those suffering from mental illness; Canada should focus on increasing mental health supports and improving access to these supports instead of offering medical assistance in dying for those with mental illness; Bill C-218 seeks to provide that a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition for which a person could receive medical assistance in dying; Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: Support Bill C-218 and stop the expansion of medical assistance in dying to those with mental illness.
Government response
No government response is available yet.