The Alberta government is launching an online survey to collect feedback from residents on the federally regulated medical assistance in dying (MAID) laws as part of its review of euthanasia policies for individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges.
Justice Minister Mickey Amery is encouraging all Albertans who have experience with and opinions about MAID to take the survey, which is open until Dec. 20.
“We recognize that medical assistance in dying is a very complex and often personal issue and is an important, sensitive and emotional matter for patients and their families,” Amery said in a statement. “It is important to ensure this process has the necessary supports to protect the most vulnerable.”
The province said it is especially interested in residents’ opinions on what limitations should be set for MAID eligibility and on MAID as an option for patients.
It also wants to glean Albertans’ support for the creation of both a new public agency and legislation to provide oversight for assisted dying and a MAID decision dispute mechanism for families.
MAID legislation falls under federal jurisdiction because it involves a number of different areas, including the Criminal Code. Health care and professional regulatory colleges fall under provincial jurisdiction, however.
The survey is part of a provincial review of how MAID is regulated to ensure consistent approach and oversight are used to protect vulnerable residents, especially those with disabilities or mental health challenges, Amery said.
The province will also consult with academics, medical associations, public bodies, religious organizations, regulatory bodies, advocacy groups and other stakeholders who have a vested interest in the MAID process, health care, disabilities, and mental health care.
The feedback gathered through the survey and consultations will help guide the government’s planning and policy decision making, the province said. That could include legislative changes to MAID in Alberta.
MAID Program
Alberta’s review comes as the federal government is planning to expand MAID to those whose sole condition is a mental illness.Currently, mental illness cannot be the sole reason for requesting MAID in Canada, but that is set to change on March 17, 2027, when Bill C-62 expires. The legislation was made law on Feb. 29 to temporarily block MAID until provincial health-care systems have processes and supports in place to accommodate such requests.
Mental Health and Addiction Minister Dan Williams said Alberta does not support expanding MAID eligibility to include those facing depression or mental illness and is urging Ottawa to do away with such policies completely.
“Our government has been clear that we do not support the provision of medically assisted suicide for vulnerable Albertans facing mental illness as their primary purpose for seeking their own death,” Williams said in the statement. “Instead, our goal is to build a continuum of care where vulnerable Albertans can live in long-term health and fulfilment. We look forward to the feedback of Albertans as we proceed with this important issue.”
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya'ara Saks said Ottawa would work with provinces, territories, and stakeholders to “be there for individuals and communities across the country who need help.”
“We know that mental illness can cause real suffering,” she said in a Feb. 1 statement on the temporary pause of MAID for mental health issues. “That’s why supporting the mental health and well-being of people in Canada remains a priority for our government.”
Canada’s MAID regulations are among the most permissive in the world, and use of the system has been on the rise as the categories of applicants have been expanded. The federal government has described MAID as a system put in place to support the “autonomy and freedom of choice of individuals.”
The instances of MAID-related deaths rose 31.2 percent in 2022, representing more than 4 percent of all deaths in the country, according to Statistics Canada. This translates to 13,241 individuals choosing MAID in 2022, marking a substantial increase from the 10,029 deaths recorded in 2021 and the 7,446 in 2020.
