A coalition consisting of 90 organisations within the fields of human rights, disability and medicine is urging Canada’s government to abandon plans to expand the MAiD assisted dying programme to persons with mental illnesses.

In a joint appeal, the organisations call for the planned expansion – due to take effect in March 2027 – to be scrapped. The organisations believe it is extremely dangerous to offer death to people suffering from mental conditions that are treatable and often temporary. In addition, patients may, because of their illness, have impaired decision-making capacity.

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In Canada, a lack of treatment may result in assisted dying becoming the healthcare system’s “offer and solution”, creating a risk that people in difficult circumstances will be induced to accept “help” to die instead of treatment.

Canada already has one of the world’s most liberal assisted dying programmes. In 2025, MAiD accounted for five per cent of all deaths in the country and is currently the nation’s sixth leading cause of death. The planned expansion to cases of “mental illness only” has encountered strong opposition based on ethical arguments. Prime Minister Carney maintains that he stands by the government’s liberalisation policy.

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