06/18/2026
A statement from Cardus Health program director Rebecca Vachon, PhD:
"The Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying (AMAD) has recommended that the Government of Canada permanently pause the impending expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) for persons with mental health conditions as sole underlying conditions.
"It is encouraging to see that the voices of many experts and professionals who live and work with the realities of Canada’s MAiD regime were listened to, and that this group of Members of Parliament have recognized their role and responsibility in protecting our most vulnerable members of society.
"We call on the federal government to support legislation that will enact this recommendation into law, thereby protecting Canadians who live with mental illnesses. Parliamentary committees should continue to investigate MAiD in a transparent and publicly accountable way, particularly with regard to the impacts MAiD has had on vulnerable Canadians, as has been continually attested to by disability advocacy organizations and demonstrated through reviews of data."
Link to the full statement below ⬇️