The federal Liberal government is expected to introduce legislation as soon as Feb. 2 that would seek to delay the expansion of eligibility requirements for receiving medical assistance in dying (MAiD).
Canada’s law governing who is eligible for receiving assisted suicide is set to change on March 17 to include patients whose only medical conditions are mental illnesses.
However, Justice Minister David Lametti and Mental Health Minister Carolyn Bennett said in December 2022 that the government would seek to delay that expansion in order to ensure Canada’s health-care system is prepared for it.
Lametti previously said the Liberal government would be introducing legislation to delay the expansion “as quickly as possible” in the new Parliamentary session, but did not specify any dates….