Justice Minister Sean Fraser has confirmed that the Liberal government will reveal its planned course of action for medical assistance in dying on Wednesday. This announcement comes following a special parliamentary committee’s report in June, recommending that individuals with a sole underlying mental illness should be “indefinitely excluded” from applying for MAID by the federal government.
Fraser expressed confidence in considering various perspectives during the policy development process and assured that the government will share the next steps imminently. The government had previously postponed expanding MAID to include individuals solely suffering from mental illness after the Superior Court of Quebec invalidated the original 2016 legislation for its restrictive nature.
If no government intervention occurs, the coverage of mental illness under MAID is set to extend in March next year. Fraser acknowledged the gravity of the situation and asked for patience, emphasizing the importance of aligning matters appropriately.
The 88-page report, released after consulting numerous expert witnesses, highlighted the urgent requirement for enhanced and equitable access to sufficient mental health services. The committee noted a divergence of opinions regarding the readiness of Canada to broaden MAID eligibility to individuals with mental health conditions.
Currently, there is a private member’s bill in the House proposing the exclusion of those solely afflicted with mental illness from MAID applications. Fraser did not disclose whether the government would back this bill or introduce a new one when questioned.
For those in need of support, resources such as the Suicide Crisis Helpline, provincial mental health services, Kids Help Phone, and guides from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health are available.
