The Liberal government is introducing legislation to delay by a year extending the Medically Assisted Death (MAID) Act to only include those with mental illness.
“It’s clear that more time is needed to get this right,” Justice Minister David Lamty said on Thursday. “The proposed one-year extension is necessary to ensure that this sensitive and complex issue is moved forward in a prudent and considered manner.
“It will provide time to help regional partners, territories, and the medical and nursing communities prepare for maid deliveries in these circumstances.”
Lamiti said the delay would allow the completion of ongoing studies on the risks of extending maid service to this group of people.
“The safety of Canadians comes first,” Lamti said. “That’s why we’re taking the extra time it takes to get this right.”
The government passed the MAID Act in 2016. The Quebec Supreme Court struck down the law in 2019 because it was limited to those whose death was “reasonably foreseeable”.
Bill C-7, passed by Parliament in March 2021, eliminated this requirement in line with the court ruling. The legislation also temporarily rescinded the expansion of mental illness treatment to include only cases involving mental illness through March 2023.
We want to be sure: Lametti
Many provinces were ready to expand MED in March this year, Lamte said, but the federal government decided to seek an extension to make sure no jurisdiction was rushed.
“COVID has slowed everything down,” Lamti said. “Honestly, we could have gone further with the original date, but we want to be sure, we want to be safe, we want everyone to be on the same page.
“We want, in particular, those health practitioners, those medical schools, colleges who have some concerns to have time to absorb what’s going on.”
Just now, I’ve scheduled the Bell C-39 in @tweetwhich seeks to delay the expansion of MAID service for those with mental illness, until March 17, 2024. I will have more to say at our 11:45 a.m. press conference with the Secretary @tweet.
Lametti said the extension would give the Joint Special Committee for End-of-life Medical Assistance to complete its final report on MAID for only those with mental illness.
The Commission Submit an interim report in June last year, which concluded it was racing against the clock to publish its recommendations in time to expand MED legislation.
“Although some work is already underway… there are concerns that more needs to be done to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to be ready by the March 2023 deadline,” the interim report said.
Imminent deadline
“Mental illness” in the new legislation refers to primarily psychological conditions, such as depression and personality disorders. It does not cover neurocognitive or neurodevelopmental disorders or related conditions.
Officials said that people with neurodegenerative diseases that lead to dementia could qualify under MAID’s current rules.
If Bill C-39 is not passed by March 17 of this year, the MAID Act for People Only with Mental Illness will become law in Canada. Legislation cannot be passed after this date because the two-year deadline will expire.
Lamty said he was confident the legislation would pass in due course and had already secured the help of the NDP and the Caucus in the House of Commons.
The minister said he hoped the Conservatives would agree because they have shown support for such a delay in the past. He also said that while he is usually open to opposition adjustments, he would be less open with Bill C-39 because it is a soft repeal.
Dying with Dignity Canada said in a series of social media posts that while it understands the need to provide safeguards and protect the vulnerable, much of this work has already been done.
“For the small group of people across Canada with treatment-resistant mental disorders who want the right to apply for medical help, this delay is only adding to their suffering. For that, we are deeply saddened,” the group said.
That hope was quickly dashed later in the day when Conservative MP Michael Cooper called for Mead’s expansion to be rescinded. Later, in the House of Commons, Conservative leader Pierre Poiliver also condemned the expansion to MAID in 2024.
The Liberals just introduced a bill to delay the mentally ill maid until March 2024.
One year will not solve the problems. It is clear from the experts that the incurability of mental illness cannot be determined.
Delay is not enough. This dangerous expansion must be abolished.
“They announced that a year from today they will take action to end the lives of people with depression,” he said. “Will they realize that we need to treat depression and give people hope for a better life instead of ending their lives?”
Mental Health and Addiction Minister Caroline Bennett has lashed out at the Tory leader, saying health professionals are trained to deny suicidal people a maid.
WATCH: The CBC’s 5th Estate on MAID Expansion
Fifth Estate: Medically assisted death investigation.
House Speaker Mark Holland, who recently spoke out about his mental health challenges, called on Poiliver to reconsider his remarks.
“I would suggest that the leader consider emphasizing that anyone supports anyone who commits suicide,” Holland said.
“When we’re talking about issues involving a maid, it’s pretty understated to assume that anyone, anywhere in this country, supports the idea of suicide as a way through bad times.”
Discussion about this post