As your Member of Parliament, I believe some of the most important conversations we have are also the hardest, medical assistance in dying (MAID) being one of them.

Dealing with a loved one near the end of their life is very painful. In those moments, families deserve clear information, not confusion. So I want to walk you through how MAID works in Canada, the protections in place for every person, and what our government is doing next.

A system built on safeguards

MAID in Canada is not something a person can simply ask for and receive. The rules are strict, and I want to make sure everyone understands them. Below are some of the safeguards that are in place:

Who is eligible

  • Adults only: A person must be at least 18 and able to make their own health decisions.
  • Canadian health care: They must be eligible for publicly funded health care in Canada. Visitors are not eligible.
  • Serious medical condition: They must have a serious and incurable condition, be in an advanced state of irreversible decline, and be living with suffering that can’t be relieved in a way they find acceptable.
  • Disability alone is not enough: Having a disability never makes someone eligible on its own.

How a request is assessed

  • Two independent assessments: Two physicians or nurse practitioners must each assess the person and confirm in writing that they’re eligible.
  • Written request: The request must be in writing and signed in front of an independent witness.
  • Extra protections: When a person’s death isn’t reasonably foreseeable, even stricter rules apply. These include at least 90 days of assessment and a required offer of disability supports and other services.

Oversight and accountability

  • Every request is reported: Practitioners must report every request they assess, including ones that are found ineligible or withdrawn.
  • Public reporting: Health Canada publishes a public report every year.
  • Review in Ontario: Here in Ontario, the Office of the Chief Coroner reviews MAID deaths.
  • Serious consequences: A practitioner who knowingly breaks the rules can face up to five years in prison, along with discipline from their regulatory college.

The choice stays with the person

At its core, MAID rests on consent, ensuring only the eligible person can make the request.

  • Family members are not able to make decisions on their behalf.
  • Every request must be voluntary, and practitioners must be satisfied that no one is being pressured.
  • A person can change their decision at any time.
  • No doctor or nurse is required to raise MAID with a patient or to take part in providing it, and no patient should ever feel MAID is being presented as their only option.

Care comes first

MAID is not a substitute for good care. In 2024, nearly three in four people who received MAID had also received palliative care. We know access to palliative care still isn’t equal across the country, especially in rural and remote communities, and our government is working with the provinces and territories to improve it.

Stopping the expansion for mental illness

Our government is bringing forward legislation to permanently stop the scheduled expansion of MAID to people whose only medical condition is a mental illness. These individuals aren’t eligible today, and our bill would keep it that way.

This wasn’t a decision we made lightly. We took the time to listen to clinicians, provinces, disability groups and experts, and we’re acting before the March 2027 deadline so there’s no uncertainty for families.

If you’re living with a mental illness, I want you to know your pain is real and it matters. You deserve care, treatment and support. If you or someone you love is struggling, please don’t wait. Call or text 988 any time, day or night. Someone will be there to listen.

What’s next

Our government will also be tabling legislation on advance requests, and Parliament will have a full opportunity to study it. Each province and territory would decide whether to offer them, and an advance request would always be the person’s own choice, made while they’re capable of making it.

Canadians hold sincere and deeply felt views on MAID, and those conversations matter. My hope is that they’re grounded in the facts. If you have questions, my office is always here to help.

Jenna