Bill C-7 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)

This bill is from the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session, which ended in August 2021.

Sponsor

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to, among other things,
(a) repeal the provision that requires a person’s natural death be reasonably foreseeable in order for them to be eligible for medical assistance in dying;
(b) specify that persons whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness are not eligible for medical assistance in dying;
(c) create two sets of safeguards that must be respected before medical assistance in dying may be provided to a person, the application of which depends on whether the person’s natural death is reasonably foreseeable;
(d) permit medical assistance in dying to be provided to a person who has been found eligible to receive it, whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable and who has lost the capacity to consent before medical assistance in dying is provided, on the basis of a prior agreement they entered into with the medical practitioner or nurse practitioner; and
(e) permit medical assistance in dying to be provided to a person who has lost the capacity to consent to it as a result of the self-administration of a substance that was provided to them under the provisions governing medical assistance in dying in order to cause their own death.

Similar bills

C-7 (43rd Parliament, 1st session) An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-7s:

C-7 (2025) Law Appropriation Act No. 2, 2025-26

C-7 (2021) An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts

C-7 (2016) Law An Act to amend the Public Service Labour Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board Act and other Acts and to provide for certain other measures

Votes

March 11, 2021 Passed Motion respecting Senate amendments to Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)

March 11, 2021 Failed Motion respecting Senate amendments to Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying) (amendment)

March 11, 2021 Passed Motion for closure

Dec. 10, 2020 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)

Dec. 3, 2020 Passed Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)

Dec. 3, 2020 Failed Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying) (report stage amendment)

Oct. 29, 2020 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-7 amends the Criminal Code regarding medical assistance in dying (MAID) by broadening eligibility to those whose death is not reasonably foreseeable. It adjusts safeguards and allows waiving final consent in certain cases.

Liberal

Responds to court ruling: The bill responds to the Truchon court decision by removing the reasonably foreseeable natural death criterion and expanding eligibility for medical assistance in dying.
Implements two-track safeguards: The legislation creates two sets of safeguards based on whether natural death is reasonably foreseeable, with additional protections for those whose death is not foreseeable.
Allows waiver of final consent: For those whose death is reasonably foreseeable and who risk losing capacity, the bill allows waiving final consent to prevent premature access to MAID.
Excludes mental illness alone: The bill excludes mental illness as the sole underlying medical condition for eligibility, noting the complexity and need for further study.

Conservative

Criticize rushed legislative process: Conservatives criticize the government for not appealing the Quebec court's Truchon decision and for rushing significant changes beyond the court ruling without a proper parliamentary review.
Bill endangers vulnerable Canadians: Members express serious concern that removing safeguards puts vulnerable persons, especially those with disabilities, the elderly, and the mentally ill, at increased risk.
Protect conscience rights and palliative care: The party emphasizes the need to protect the conscience rights of medical professionals and institutions and to improve access to quality palliative care as an alternative.

NDP

Supports bill C-7: The NDP supports Bill C-7 to amend the current law, which they found too restrictive, to end unnecessary suffering and comply with the Quebec Superior Court decision.
Calls for broader review: They insist on proceeding with the mandated broader legislative review of MAID in parallel with Bill C-7, covering topics like advance requests and mature minors.
Address concerns and improve care: They acknowledge concerns regarding safeguards and vulnerable persons, stating these should be addressed in the broader review, and emphasize the critical need for better support for people with disabilities and improved palliative care.

Bloc

Supports bill C-7 principle: The Bloc Québécois supports the principle of Bill C-7 as it clarifies access to medical assistance in dying, particularly for those not nearing the end of life, addressing a court ruling.
Upholds individual autonomy: Members stress that the state must not interfere with an individual's autonomy and self-determination regarding their own death, especially for those suffering intolerably.
Corrects prior law limitations: The bill addresses the "reasonably foreseeable natural death" criterion struck down by the court, allowing access for individuals with incurable suffering even if death is not imminent.
Calls for further amendments: The party seeks improvements like including advance consent for predictable cognitive decline and reconsidering the 10-day waiting period for foreseeable death cases.

Green

Fixes flaws in previous law: The bill is urgent and necessary to correct previous legislation (Bill C-14) that failed to meet constitutional requirements and left individuals like Audrey Parker suffering.
Allows for advance directives: The party supports the bill for allowing advance directives and removing the requirement for individuals to be competent at the time of the procedure.
Upholds charter rights: Members believe the bill upholds the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by protecting security of the person and bodily autonomy for individuals seeking dignity in dying.

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Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 29th, 2020 / 3:50 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

Criminal CodeGovernment Orders

October 29th, 2020 / 3:50 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I wish to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded division, Government Orders will be extended by 39 minutes.