Liberals introduce legislation to delay expansion of assisted dying eligibility until 2027
The Liberal government introduced legislation Thursday that will delay the expansion of assisted dying to include those suffering solely from mental illness to 2027.
Health Minister Mark Holland introduced the legislation and Justice Minister Arif Virani told reporters that the delay was needed until Canada’s health-care system is ready to implement the expansion.
This is the second time the government has sought to delay the expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAID) since the Superior Court of Quebec struck down the government’s original 2016 legislation because it was limited to those whose deaths were “reasonably foreseeable.”
New legislation passed in 2021 delayed by two years the extension of MAID to include those who suffer from mental illness. That deadline was later pushed back to March 17 of this year.
A special committee, made up of 15 MPs and senators, was tasked by the federal government last fall with determining whether the health-care system is prepared for the expansion.
After hearing from dozens of witnesses, the committee released a report Monday concluding that Canada is not ready.
More to come.
