Canada’s justice minister is rejecting charges that the federal government is perpetuating mental-illness stereotypes by delaying a planned expansion of medical assistance in dying. Arif Virani says allowing access to an assisted death solely on the basis of a mental disorder is a complex endeavour — and that’s the only reason for the delay. The … Read more
The Liberals have delayed expanding medical assistance in dying for mental illness until after the next election. But if Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wins, he says he will scrap the plan altogether. “We will revoke (an expansion) entirely,” Poilievre said at a news conference Thursday in Vancouver after the Trudeau government punted the move until … Read more
Thirteen years ago, in the throes of a major political loss and personal crisis, Mark Holland experienced the darkest period of his life. Since his return to federal politics, he’s been candid about his suicide attempt, and the mental-health struggle that took him “to the doorstep of my own oblivion.” Now, as the federal health … Read more
Descrease article font size Increase article font size The Liberal government is delaying the expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) for people solely suffering from a mental illness until 2027. Health Minister Mark Holland and Justice Minister Arif Virani made the announcement on Thursday morning, while discussing new legislation to formalize the delay. This … Read more
Health Minister Mark Holland says he plans to table legislation “in a couple days time” that will lay out more clearly the federal government’s plans on the timing of the expansion for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) to cover people whose sole condition is mental illness. That comes as provinces and territories have asked the … Read more
Canada is “not ready” to expand eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) to people with mental health as their sole medical condition, Health Minister Mark Holland said Monday. Holland said the government agrees with a joint parliamentary committee report released earlier Monday that reached the same conclusion, and that assisted death should only be … Read more
The Liberals acknowledge there are still lingering questions about whether Canada is ready to expand medical assistance in dying (MAiD), despite a looming deadline. “Let me be clear: in talking with health ministers across the country there have been concerns about readiness,” said Health Minister Mark Holland on Monday. The federal government is weighing whether to … Read more
The federal Liberals face a choice early in 2024. They can allow a sunset clause to take effect so that eligibility for medical assistance in dying expands to adults whose only reason for seeking it is a mental disorder. Or they can do what they did in 2023 and postpone it further, even indefinitely. Justice … Read more
