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Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the Liberal government will announce its planned path forward for medical assistance in dying on Wednesday.
The government has yet to say how it will proceed after a special parliamentary committee released a report in June recommending that the federal government “indefinitely exclude” people whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness from applying for MAID.
“I feel confident that we’ve heard a range of different views in the development of the policy process and will be able to share next steps tomorrow,” Fraser told reporters on Parliament Hill on Tuesday.
The government has twice delayed MAID expansion that would include those solely suffering from mental illness after the Superior Court of Quebec struck down the government’s original 2016 legislation because it found the law too limiting.
Unless the government intervenes, MAID will expand to cover mental illness in March of next year.
A newly tabled parliamentary report urges the Canadian government to amend the criminal code to indefinitely exclude people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness from Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). The decision now lies with Justice Minister Sean Fraser.
“I appreciate that I’m asking for patience, which can be hard at times. Look, it’s a serious issue. I want to make sure I take the opportunity to line things up the appropriate way,” Fraser said.
The 88-page report came after parliamentarians heard from a number of expert witnesses on whether the country is ready from a clinical, health systems and regulatory perspective.
The report said a common theme across testimony was the “pressing need for increased and more equitable access to adequate mental health services.”
In its conclusion, the committee pointed to a “divergence of perspectives” on whether Canada is ready to expand eligibility to MAID to those suffering with mental illness.
There is currently a private member’s bill before the House that would exclude those suffering solely from mental illness from applying for MAID.
The government could put its support behind that legislation or introduce a new bill. When asked, Fraser didn’t indicate which route he is planning to take.
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