Revoke MAID eligibility for mental illness
Petitioners ask the House of Commons to support Bill C-218 to repeal MAID eligibility for people whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. The government responds that the exclusion remains while reviews continue.
Why we would sign this petition
- It prevents MAID being available to people whose sole condition is mental illness, prioritizing protection when treatment access and prognosis are uncertain.
- It shifts policy emphasis toward expanding mental‑health treatment and supports rather than extending end‑of‑life options for a vulnerable group.
- It reduces the risk that suicidal ideation or treatable psychiatric conditions lead to assisted death before adequate care and review occur.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- It blocks access for competent adults who consider their mental illness grievous and irremediable, limiting personal autonomy over end‑of‑life choices.
- A repeal removes the possibility of carefully designed safeguards and case‑by‑case assessments for complex situations, foregoing a regulated alternative to a blanket ban.
- It could prolong suffering or push individuals toward unsafe alternatives where robust safeguards and supports might later allow qualified access.
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 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 Health Signed by Maggie Chi Medical Assistance in Dying is a complex, deeply personal issue for many people. While provinces and territories are responsible for the organization, management and delivery of health services in their jurisdiction, including end-of-life care services like medical assistance in dying, the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring our laws reflect Canadians’ needs, protect those who may be vulnerable, and support autonomy and compassion. Eligibility for medical assistance in dying where an individual’s sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness is not currently permitted under the Criminal Code. In 2021, Parliament amended the Criminal Code to permit eligibility for individuals suffering from grievous and irremediable medical conditions whose death was not reasonably foreseeable, if they met the strict eligibility criteria and safeguards set out in the Criminal Code. The amendments also included a two-year temporary exclusion to exempt individuals whose only condition was mental illness pending further review. This review was undertaken by an independent expert panel to consider protocols, guidance and safeguards to apply to requests for medical assistance in dying by persons who have a mental illness. The Expert Panel’s report was tabled in Parliament in 2022. As well, a special committee of Parliament, the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying was struck to consider issues related to medical assistance in dying, with a focus on the issue of individuals whose sole underlying condition is mental illness. Its 2022 report emphasized the importance of standards of practice, clear guidelines, adequate training, comprehensive patient assessments and meaningful oversight in advance of the eligibility exclusion being lifted. Its 2024 report concluded that Canada was not yet ready to proceed with eligibility for this population. The temporary exclusion of eligibility for individuals with a mental illness as their sole underlying medical condition was initially set to end on March 17, 2023. The previous Government tabled legislation to extend the eligibility exclusion first to March 17, 2024 and subsequently to March 17, 2027. This was done in response to concerns from provinces and territories and medical experts regarding health system readiness for addressing these types of requests for medical assistance in dying. Before the temporary exclusion automatically lifts, a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament must also undertake “a comprehensive review relating to the eligibility of persons whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness to receive medical assistance in dying” which must start by end of February 2026. Since 2021, Health Canada has been working with provinces and territories to support health system readiness by sharing best practices, strengthening collaboration and deepening the work with experts and stakeholders on needed supports to allow for the safe implementation of medical assistance in dying in Canada. In addition, Health Canada has supported the development of guidance and training for practitioners by: Funding the Canadian Association of Medical Assistance in Dying Assessors and Providers to develop and deliver the Canadian Medical Assistance in Dying Curriculum, an accredited bilingual curriculum for clinicians. The curriculum includes modules on complex medical assistance in dying scenarios and provides the main clinical practice considerations involved in medical assistance in dying for persons with mental illness. Publishing the Model Practice Standard for Medical Assistance in Dying and accompanying Advice to the Profession document, developed by an expert task group of clinicians. Funding the development of clinical practice guidelines to support health care practitioners in assessing requests for medical assistance in dying where a mental illness is the sole underlying medical condition. These guidelines will address issues related to suicidality and irremediability of mental disorders and are being done by the Canadian Psychiatric Association. The work is expected to be completed in early 2026. Protecting vulnerable persons, including those in crisis or experiencing mental illness, is a priority for our Government. Through Canada’s first National Suicide Prevention Action Plan, we are coordinating efforts with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, and experts to reduce risk and save lives. A cornerstone of this work is 9-8-8, Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline. It is free, confidential, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in English and French, by voice and text. Between November 2023 and July 2025, 9-8-8 answered over 600,000 calls and texts. It is a lifeline for people in crisis, and we are committed to strengthening it.