At this time last year, we were worried about the impending expansion of euthanasia to people with mental illness. Thankfully, Bill C-39 was introduced by the federal government at the beginning of February 2023 to delay that expansion until March 17, 2024.

Over the past year, we continued to advocate for caring for, not killing, people with mental illness. We supported Bill C-314, which sought to cancel the pending expansion of euthanasia to those with mental illness. Bill C-314 failed by a small margin at 2nd reading, but the amount of support the bill received, including from some Liberal MPs, sent a message to the government that this was something they needed to reconsider. Immediately following the defeat of Bill C-314, Parliament re-convened the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying to review Canada’s level of preparedness for expanding euthanasia. The Committee heard from 21 in-person witnesses, and reportedly received nearly 900 briefs.

Committee Recommendation

Earlier this week, a majority of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying recommended that the government once again delay the expansion of euthanasia to people with mental illness. The report clearly states that “the medical system in Canada is not prepared for [MAID for mental illness].” This time, instead of a delay of just one or even two years, the committee recommends an indefinite delay, until the Ministers of Health and Justice are satisfied “that it can be safely and adequately provided.” Once the Ministers determine that it is time to implement the expansion, the Committee would be re-established one year in advance of the expansion.

This is a stronger recommendation than we expected, and we praise God for that. Since Bill C-7 in 2021, the government has seemed ideologically committed to allowing euthanasia for mental illness. Various committees and panels that studied the issue seemed to have made the conclusion to expand before really working through the issues.

But Canadians pushed back. You wrote emails, delivered flyers, sent submissions to the committee, and promoted a message of caring, not killing. We’ve also seen a lot more media coverage of the issue, with multiple news outlets criticizing the government’s approach. Now, excluding four Senators, every committee member agreed that Canada is not ready to offer euthanasia for mental illness. Following the Committee’s report, seven provinces and three territories wrote to the federal government asking for an indefinite pause to the expansion.

Committee Reports

When there is any unresolved disagreement among committee members, committees will table a majority report as well as various supplementary or dissenting reports. The majority report, in this case, was agreed to by the five Liberal MPs and one NDP MP on the Committee. Three Conservative MPs and one Conservative Senator wrote a supplemental report. They go further than calling for an indefinite delay, urging the government to “permanently abandon this expansion of MAID. Failing to do so will inevitably lead to the premature deaths of vulnerable Canadians who could have gotten better.” While we are thankful for the majority’s recommendation, we are pleased to also see the Conservatives take this stronger stance. Commentator Chris Selley put it well in a recent National Post article, “’Not ready’ aren’t the words Canadians politicians are looking for. ‘Not ever’ are the words.”

Still, some Parliamentarians continue to push for expanding euthanasia. Four Senators on the Committee wrote two different dissenting reports. One of these Senators recommends that the government ask the Supreme Court about whether extending the delay would be constitutional. The other three ask the government to reject the majority report. They argue that setting an especially high bar for preparedness when it comes to euthanizing the mentally ill reflects stigma and discrimination towards them.

Moving Forward

Committee recommendations are not binding on the federal government. The government, however, will have to table an official response to the report. Health Minister Mark Holland has already commented on the report, stating, “We agree with the conclusion that the committee has come to that the system is, at this time, not ready and more time is required.”

This suggests the government is prepared to act prior to the March 17 deadline. They face a tight timeline to pass legislation through both the House of Commons and the Senate. The Minister of Health says that legislation will be tabled imminently.  

In the meantime, we can continue to encourage the government to put a full stop to this expansion, rather than delaying it again. The government should be saying ‘not ever’ rather than ‘not ready.’ But we can also thank God for moving the hearts of our leaders to be increasingly uncomfortable with expanding euthanasia to those with mental illness.  

Euthanasia should never be a solution for mental illness. This has been, and will remain, a primary focus of ARPA Canada’s Care Not Kill campaign. This was also the focus of Bill C-314 which would have entirely stopped the expansion of euthanasia to those with mental illness. On October 18, Bill C-314 was defeated in the House of Commons. So where do we go from here? Does the defeat of Bill C-314 mean the conversation is over?

Recap

The expansion of euthanasia to those with mental illness was first introduced in 2021 through Bill C-7, when the Senate included an amendment that would make this expansion happen as of March 17, 2023. In the meantime, many organizations voiced their concern about this proposal. Doctors, psychiatrists, lawyers, and researchers flagged many problems with expanding access to euthanasia to those with a mental illness. In response, the government delayed it until March 17, 2024. Earlier this year, just 8 days after the government announced they would delay the expansion of euthanasia, MP Ed Fast introduced Bill C-314, indicating that a delay was not enough but that the expansion needed to be stopped entirely.

In the meantime, Canadians across the country have been actively engaged on this issue. We’ve seen stories in the media pointing to concerns with the expansion of euthanasia, stories of people being offered euthanasia or trying to access euthanasia because they can’t access the care they need.

Canadians have emailed and met with their MPs, talked with their neighbours, and spread the message of caring, not killing. Supporters of the Care Not Kill campaign delivered nearly 250,000 flyers to create awareness about the planned expansion, and later, on the importance of passing Bill C-314. This has contributed to the ongoing conversation.

Final Debate and Vote

In the final hour of debate on the bill on October 5, NDP MP Don Davies noted his concern about extending euthanasia to Canadians with mental illness: “Bill C-314, the bill before the House today, would remove this eligibility at least until we have satisfactory answers and guardrails to ensure that we can extend this profoundly permanent step with confidence. In my view, we do not have that necessary confidence today, and I think the majority of Canadians and health professionals, and the data, concur… It is going to be my position to support this bill and I think we must move very cautiously.” 

The vote on Bill C-314 took place on October 18. Ultimately, the bill failed with 167 MPs opposed and 150 MPs in support.

While the defeat of the bill is disappointing, let’s pause here a moment. MPs voted on a critical bill on a social issue dealing with a matter of life and death for those with mental illness. And 150 MPs voted in support. If only 9 MPs had voted in favour rather than against, the bill would have passed. While the government continues to move forward with euthanasia for mental illness, nearly half of our Members of Parliament remain opposed, including 8 MPs from the governing party itself. Here’s the full breakdown of votes:

Liberal: Yea: 8, Nay: 136, Did not vote: 14

Conservative: Yea: 115, Nay: 0, Did not vote: 2

Bloc Quebecois: Yea: 0, Nay: 30, Did not vote: 2

NDP: Yea: 24, Nay: 0, Did not vote: 1

Independent: Yea: 1, Nay: 1, Did not vote: 1

Green: Yea: 2, Nay: 0, Did not vote: 0

The MPs that did not vote either way could have done so for a variety of reasons, but certainly some of these intentionally abstained. Perhaps they are still struggling with the issue or maybe they decided they couldn’t vote the way their party recommended. It’s hard to say why MPs abstained or were unable to vote, but the vote as a whole indicated one thing: the debate on euthanasia for those with mental illness is far from over. We can so easily get caught up in the fact that a bill did not pass. But the number of MPs who supported this bill sends a message that Canadians are not done with this issue yet. Canadians still know that this expansion does not make sense.

Find out how your Member of Parliament voted here, and send them a message to thank them or express your disappointment.  

Where to from here?

Bill C-314 has been defeated. There is now no bill that seeks to remove the expansion of euthanasia to those with mental illness or scale back Canada’s euthanasia regime in any other way. As of today, the expansion of euthanasia is still set to take place on March 17, 2024. That’s the reality.

But Canadians have said they don’t support the expansion of euthanasia. A recent poll indicated that 82% of Canadians believe mental health care should be improved first before MAiD eligibility is expanded to mental illness. That same poll indicated that in general, 50% of Canadians strongly oppose expanding euthanasia to mental illness, 21% are unsure, and only 28% support such a move.

The government continues to move forward with the expansion. In response to calls to support Bill C-314, the government indicated that they will re-strike the Joint Committee that studied euthanasia earlier this year. The government seems to believe that they simply need enough time to ‘get things right’ as it pertains to euthanasia and the mentally ill. Despite concerns, the government has so far proposed no new safeguards for those with mental illness. ARPA Canada and others will continue to seek to influence the conversation, also at the Joint Committee when it resumes meeting. This Committee will be another opportunity to continue to raise concerns about the expansion of euthanasia. We pray that they will indeed address the numerous concerns with Canada’s euthanasia regime rather than seeking to expand access to euthanasia.

No matter the result, we continue to advocate for caring, not killing in all circumstances. MP Ed Fast, who introduced Bill C-314, closed his debate on the bill with this challenge: “A famous world leader by the name of Moses once challenged his own people with a choice and a promise: ‘I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.’ I want my descendants to live, to prosper, to thrive, and I want the same for our mentally ill, our Indigenous peoples and indeed all Canadians. It is time to end this experiment. With so much uncertainty, surely we should err on the side of life, not death.”

Canadians must continue putting pressure on elected officials to care, not kill. And while we do so, we continue to trust that God holds the future in His hands.

“The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood,

and the Lord sits as King forever.

The Lord will give strength to His people,

the Lord will bless His people with peace.”

~ Psalm 29:10-11

May 17, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Ottawa, ON] – Today, Bill C-314, the Mental Health Protection Act, will be debated for the first time in the House of Commons. This important private member’s bill addresses the concerns of Canadians from across the political spectrum who do not want euthanasia to become a tool to “treat” mental illness.

“Mental health supports should never include assisted suicide,” said ARPA Canada spokesperson Mike Schouten. “By introducing the Mental Health Protection Act MP Ed Fast has presented Parliament with an opportunity to address this pressing issue head-on and ensure Canadians struggling with mental illness are offered suicide prevention, not suicide assistance,” said Schouten.

ARPA Canada has been advocating against the expansion of euthanasia through the Care Not Kill campaign, a public awareness effort with the goal of educating Canadians regarding the importance of suicide prevention, especially in connection with mental illness. The Care Not Kill campaign has rallied support and raised awareness about the importance of safeguarding the vulnerable and preserving human dignity.

“Bill C-314 aims to establish a future where mental health care is rooted in compassion and respects the sanctity of life. It is our duty to advocate for the well-being and rights of those who need it the most,” said Schouten.

ARPA Canada is looking forward to a robust debate on Bill C-314 and views it as instrumental in setting the stage for discussions surrounding the expansion of euthanasia.

“Bill C-314 provides a glimmer of hope, an opportunity to create a future where mental health supports remain free from assisted suicide,” concluded Schouten.

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The Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA) Canada has a long history of involvement with euthanasia laws and policy in Canada. ARPA was granted intervenor standing at the Supreme Court of Canada in the Carter case in 2016. They have also provided a variety of policy reports, research, and analysis on the topic. In 2020, ARPA launched the Care Not Kill campaign, a national grassroots initiative that educates Canadians on the harms of euthanasia and equips people to engage respectfully on this sensitive topic.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mike Schouten is available for further comment or interviews, please contact Mike Schouten at [email protected] or 778-321-2457.

Note to editors: images and further information about the Care Not Kill campaign and Bill C-314 are available upon request.

Go to carenotkill.ca and help voice your support for bill C-314!

The original deadline for the expansion of euthanasia to those with mental illness was March 17, 2023. However, at the beginning of February, in response to pressure from the public, the media, and medical professionals, the government introduced Bill C-39 to extend that deadline by one year, to March 17, 2024. Thankfully, that bill received royal assent on March 9, just eight days before the planned expansion.

The day before Bill C-39 was passed, Senators had the opportunity to question the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Health on the issue of euthanasia for mental illness. The Minister of Justice, David Lametti, made it clear that the government is still committed to making the expansion happen. The only reason cited for the delay is so that the government can ensure the regulations are clearly defined and understood.

Two Sides to the Debate

On one hand, Senators questioned the Ministers about the lack of consensus among medical professionals, legal scholars, and the general public about the expansion of euthanasia for those with mental illness. These Senators asked why the government does not abandon the expansion altogether due to the lack of professional consensus and the concerns that vulnerable Canadians will be killed instead of receiving the care they need. Other questions centred on data, safeguards, and funding for mental illness.

On the other hand, some Senators asked questions with regard to the slowness of implementing euthanasia for those with mental illness, suggesting that the government is unnecessarily making suffering Canadians wait to access euthanasia.

Notable Points

Much of the conversation about euthanasia for mental illness revolves around the question of irremediability; that is, whether a patient with mental illness can recover. This is where a major lack of consensus among medical professionals exists. Many psychiatrists say that mental illness is never irremediable and that a patient always has a chance of recovery.

Instead of focusing on this issue of irremediability, some Senators have chosen to focus on autonomy; that is, the right for patients to choose euthanasia if they are suffering in a way that they feel is intolerable.

In response to questions about irremediability, the Ministers of Justice and Health claim that a patient is not eligible for euthanasia if there is any doubt about whether they can recover. However, they do not propose making the law more strict, but simply trust that doctors will act appropriately. A major concern that the government does not address is that Canadians who wish to access euthanasia can simply go to a doctor who is open to defining their illness as irremediable and will end their life. It is often at this point that the conversation seems to shift increasingly away from medical arguments and towards arguments about autonomy.

The government also continues to stress that they believe there will only be a small number of Canadians accessing euthanasia for mental illness. But some Senators note that bad policies are not made acceptable if they only affect a small number of people, particularly when they end those people’s lives.

A second medical question in this debate is whether euthanasia will be provided to Canadians who are suicidal. The Minister of Justice argues that, even in the context of mental illness, euthanasia will not be provided to someone who is suicidal. Any arguments to the contrary he labels as misinformation. However, as one psychiatry professor states, “On the face of it, even if you look at what the word means, when somebody wants to die and they’re not dying, of course that means that they’re suicidal.” Concerns about euthanasia for those who may be suicidal are valid, and the Minister of Justice fails to show how the issues can be distinguished.

Another interesting point raised in the discussion was with regard to how provinces would respond to the expansion of euthanasia to those with mental illness. In particular, Quebec has already chosen not to allow euthanasia for mental illness. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently also objected to the government’s continued expansion of euthanasia, although she has not said whether her government will act on this objection.

While the federal government wants to have all the provinces on board with their expansion, the Ministers admit that they are working with criminal law and the provinces do not have to implement everything they are permitted to implement. So, if the federal government is unwilling to stop the expansion of euthanasia, provinces may have the opportunity to create stricter guidelines in their jurisdictions.

Where to from here?

It is fitting to close with the words of Senator Donald Plett, as he concluded his speech on Bill C-39:

“To those listening who are struggling with mental illness or who love someone with mental illness and to those who treat and support them, please know this fight is not over. The work has only begun … Bill C-314 has been tabled and will put an end to this reckless expansion. I look forward to continuing the fight in this chamber and I would encourage my colleagues to give the bill due consideration when it comes our way.”

Bill C-314, recently introduced in the House of Commons, seeks to entirely remove the expansion of euthanasia for those with mental illness. We are thankful that Bill C-39 has passed, giving an additional year to push for the complete removal of the expansion to those with mental illness. While it is troubling to hear comments from the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Health, and various Senators who wish to see euthanasia expanded, it is also very encouraging to hear the comments of MPs and Senators who speak boldly about this issue on behalf of vulnerable Canadians. We hope and pray that MPs, Senators, and the Canadian public will continue to engage boldly on this issue over the upcoming year. And we hope that Reformed Christians will be leading that charge.

We were so thankful this week to see the leader of the official opposition express support for Bill C 314.

Over the past few months, there has been a flurry of activity with regard to Canada’s euthanasia laws. You’ve heard from ARPA Canada about Bill C-39, Bill C-314, Bill S-248, committee hearings, and expert panels, all focused on the issue of euthanasia, not to mention the multiple components of euthanasia being debated, whether it’s safeguards, disability, mental illness, or mature minors. Christians involved in this issue have seen cause for both encouragement and discouragement just this month, and many times throughout the past year or two. If you find yourself getting confused about where things are at, you’re not alone. Let’s put it all in one place for a minute and take stock.

Bills Expanding Euthanasia in Canada

Looking back to March 2021, the government passed Bill C-7. Through this bill, they removed the requirement that death must be reasonably foreseeable in order for a person to access euthanasia. That meant that Canadians with various disabilities could access euthanasia, even if their disability would not naturally end their life in the foreseeable future. In addition, Bill C-7 set a date of March 17, 2023, when euthanasia for those with mental illness would be legalized.

Over the past two years, Canadians have increasingly expressed their fears about the implications of offering suicide to those with mental illness. Multiple news stories showed the slippery slope of euthanasia becoming a reality, where Canadians were being offered euthanasia against their will, and those with mental illness were being encouraged to end their lives. Many psychologists and psychiatrists recognized that there is no way to distinguish a request for euthanasia from suicidal thoughts, and stated fears that providing access to euthanasia would devalue the lives of those with mental illness and make them lose hope.

Currently, Bill S-248 is being debated in the Senate, but it has not yet passed 2nd reading. This bill would allow Canadians to make advance requests for euthanasia – meaning that a person could decide now that they want to be euthanized at some later date when they cannot give consent. These types of requests are rightly prohibited for most medical treatment decisions because a person cannot know what their condition will be like in the future, or how they will feel about that condition if it happens.

Quebec has also introduced a provincial bill, Bill 11, that seeks to allow advanced requests in their province. Unlike the federal Bill S-248 which was introduced by a private member in the Senate and thus has a relatively low chance of passing, Bill 11 was introduced by the government (specifically by the minister responsible for seniors) and thus has a high likelihood of becoming the law of the land in Quebec.

Bills Slowing the Expansion of Euthanasia

At the end of 2021, a report by a committee of the Quebec legislature recommended against euthanasia for mental illness. A 2022 Expert Panel report on euthanasia for mental illness noted significant risks but ultimately suggested that no new safeguards needed to be added to existing legislation. The government is aware of concerns about euthanasia for mental illness, and they have backed off slightly, recently introducing Bill C-39, which will delay the expansion of euthanasia for mental illness until March 17, 2024. Unfortunately, the government’s reasoning is not due to concerns that this expansion is inappropriate. Instead, they stated that they are committed to making the expansion happen and are simply ensuring that the proper safeguards are in place. Meanwhile, many medical professionals claim that there is no such thing as proper safeguards that would protect vulnerable Canadians with mental illnesses.

Shortly after Bill C-39 was introduced, Member of Parliament Ed Fast introduced Bill C-314, which would entirely cancel the expansion of MAiD for those with mental illness. This is a huge step in the right direction and a signal that there is a willingness to stop the expansion of euthanasia. The debate on euthanasia and mental illness in the House of Commons reveals the support of many of MP Fast’s colleagues. NDP MP Charlie Angus also recently wrote on Twitter, “I will not vote to support extending the medical death program to those suffering mental illness, to those who are depressed or to children. Not on my watch.” While the Bill will need a majority of MPs to vote in favour, MPs from all parties seem to be increasingly concerned about expanding euthanasia for mental illness.

Committee Report on Euthanasia

Shortly after Bill C-314 was introduced, the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying released their final report after months of discussion and witness testimony. Ultimately, despite stating multiple worries that witnesses had about expansion, the majority of the committee recommended expanding euthanasia to those with mental illness (after the one-year delay), to minors, and to those who make advance requests. To ‘protect’ the vulnerable, the committee recommends a few safeguards as well as further consultation and a review process. However, the reviews would take place five years after euthanasia is already expanded, at a time when it is too late for those who have already had their lives ended through euthanasia. For further commentary on that report, you can read ARPA Canada’s statement and a recent op-ed.  

The latest recommendations from the Joint Committee are troublesome and point to some appetite for the continued expansion of euthanasia in Canada. Yet once again, there was opposition, even on the Committee. A minority of the Committee wrote a dissenting report, recommending that the government refuse to expand euthanasia. They also address the need for improved palliative care and protection for people with disabilities. We are encouraged to see strong opposition in these areas from some members of the Committee.

In short…

There has been a lot of debate in the past couple of years on the issue of euthanasia in Canada. We’ve seen excellent pushback on euthanasia for those with mental illness and may yet see that reversed. There will likely be further developments throughout 2023, and we must continue to push back against further expansion. It’s been a rollercoaster, with ups and downs, but we are thankful for the efforts of so many Canadians who are encouraging the government to care for vulnerable Canadians, rather than end their lives. For more on what you can do, go to carenotkill.ca for current action items.   

Status: Defeated at second reading in the House of Commons

Description: Would have eliminated the expansion of eligibility for euthanasia to those with mental illnesses. Bill C-7, the last piece of euthanasia legislation, had a sunset clause that would allow those with mental illnesses to be eligible for euthanasia. While the government delayed the implementation of this clause by another year in Bill C-39, this bill proposed to scrap that clause entirely.

Analysis: It is incomprehensible that our society provides suicide prevention to one class of citizens and assisted suicide to another class of citizens. The extension of assisted suicide to those with mental illness effectively means that assisted suicide is a perfectly legitimate solution to suicidal ideation. Instead of offering assisted suicide to those with mental illnesses, we need to provide better mental health care and support to those who are suffering.

Action Items: Visit CareNotKill.ca for more information on all of these action items: