QUESTION PERIOD — Health
Medical Assistance in Dying
May 6, 2026
Senator Moreau, The Globe and Mail is reporting that the federal government is set to table legislation to pause the expansion of medical assistance in dying, or MAID, where mental illness is the sole underlying medical condition. The Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying has heard from many witnesses that the Canadian health system is not equipped to support the safe expansion of MAID to include mental illness, citing that the needed social and health services are not readily available.
The provinces and territories are seeing an increased demand for mental health services, yet the Canada Health Transfer will decrease from 5% to 3% starting in 2028. Given the ongoing uncertainty around mental health services funding and accessibility, what is the federal government’s plan to bridge this gap?
Medical assistance in dying is a very complex and deeply personal issue. Every individual’s journey is different, and presenting a request for medical aid in dying is a serious decision.
The government looks forward to the joint committee’s report on health system readiness for MAID eligibility of persons with mental illness and will study it closely to inform its policy. I cannot comment on future government legislation, but I can tell you with confidence that the government will work with provinces, territories and medical professionals on the implementation of Canada’s MAID system.
