Bill C-218

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

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to provide that a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition for which a person could receive medical assistance in dying.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, dozens of my constituents, through my constituent Henry, provided me with this petition and asked me to present it on behalf of residents and citizens calling upon the House of Commons to support Bill C-218. They raise the point that Canadians with mental illness should be provided with treatment and support. Mental illness is complex and can include suicidal thoughts as a symptom.

Several constituents have since recognized the AMAD report, but wanted me to present this. With that, I present this petition on behalf of constituents of the riding of Waterloo.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present a petition on behalf of my recently retired colleague, Larry Brock, signed by the great residents of Brantford—Brant South and people across western Ontario.

The petitioners are raising the alarm over the planned expansion of medical assistance in dying, or MAID, to all Canadians diagnosed with any mental illness, starting on March 17, 2027. This June, the Special Joint Committee on MAID released its report, urgently recommending that the government immediately pause the expansion of MAID and exclude people suffering from a mental illness from accessing MAID. Even the Liberal chair of the committee said only elected parliamentarians should debate and decide this significant moral question, as they are held accountable to their constituents.

Mr. Brock's petition calls on the government to immediately suspend the expansion of MAID scheduled for March 17, 2027, as recommended by the joint committee and allow Parliament to do its job by voting in favour of Bill C-218, which would exclude persons suffering from mental illness alone from receiving MAID.

Justice

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today the Liberals are taking a cynical gamble with vulnerable Canadians' lives, asking Parliament to reject Bill C-218 for a phantom bill that has not even been written. They are playing political games at a time when lives are in the balance.

The study was done. The broad consensus is there. The bill is tabled. Every minute we waste on an unwritten bill brings us closer to the deadline. Rejecting protection already before Parliament is reckless, and Canadians could pay with their lives.

Will the Liberals do the right thing, work with us and support Bill C-218 today?

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present a petition from Canadians from across the country who are opposed to the expansion of MAID to those who have only the underlying issue of mental illness. They note that mental illness is often recoverable. They are asking for the Government of Canada to recognize this and to adopt Bill C-218. This bill would stop the expansion of medical assistance in dying to those who have mental illness. We need to ensure those with mental illness have hope and not MAID.

[Dan Muys, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present this petition on behalf of constituents concerned about the expansion of MAID, medical assistance in dying, to Canadians whose sole underlying condition is mental illness. They urge every member of this House to support Bill C-218, because people with mental illness deserve our love and support and the right to recover, not an option for dying.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I too am rising today to present a petition. The petitioners from across Canada are supportive of Bill C-218. This bill would make it so that MAID for mental illness as the sole underlying condition would not come into force in 2027. The people who signed this petition noted that mental illness is treatable and recovery is possible. They worry about the fact that if MAID is offered to these people, we would be muddying the waters around suicide prevention.

Therefore, the people who have signed this petition are calling for the government to pass Bill C-218 to stop euthanasia from being offered to those with mental illness.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition today in support of Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code with respect to medical assistance in dying.

In particular, petitioners note that the Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying, or euthanasia as it is otherwise known, to individuals whose only medical condition is a mental illness. Petitioners note that mental illness is treatable, recovery is possible and experts agree that it is impossible to predict if someone with mental illness will get better or not, and therefore whether it is truly irremediable or not. Expanding MAID to people with mental illness as their only underlying condition suggests that some lives are beyond saving.

Therefore, petitioners are asking the government to pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to those whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I too want to rise with a petition from Canadians asking the government to consider supporting Bill C-218.

The petitioners recognize that the expansion of MAID is being discussed in this House and will be voted on later this week. The expansion would include individuals who would be eligible for MAID on the basis of mental illness as their sole medical condition. Experts agree that people can recover from mental illness; it is treatable and they cannot predict when it is irremediable.

Petitioners are asking the Government of Canada to support Bill C-218 and make sure that MAID is not extended to people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to stand here today to present this petition in support of Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code, medical assistance in dying. Mental illness is treatable and experts agree. Families and communities are concerned that people who could recover through treatment and support may instead lose their lives.

The people are calling upon the Government of Canada to pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to those whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in just two days, members of the House of Commons will vote on Bill C-218, whether or not to end the incoming expansion of MAID for people with only a mental illness.

It is in that spirit that I have the great honour to present a petition from Canadians who are alarmed by the fact that in just a few months, people with no physical conditions whatsoever, with only a mental illness, would be eligible for MAID.

Canadians are calling on members of this House to adopt the direct and clear path forward to fulfilling the committee recommendation from the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying. The petitioners call on all members of this chamber, and particularly the Liberal government, to vote for Bill C-218, the right to recover act.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to rise today and present a petition in the people's House in regard to the upcoming private member's bill, Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code, medical assistance in dying.

The Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying to individuals whose only medical condition is a mental illness. Mental illness is treatable and recovery is possible. Experts agree it is currently impossible to predict when mental illness is truly irremediable. Expanding MAID in this way risks suggesting that some lives are beyond saving, while many Canadians still struggle to access timely and effective mental health care.

Public concern is high, with many Canadians believing that treatment options should come before MAID and fearing that vulnerable individuals may seek MAID due to a lack of care. Families and communities are concerned that people who could recover through treatment and support may instead lose their lives.

That is why Bill C-218, the right to recover act, would amend the Criminal Code to ensure that mental illness alone is not considered a grievous and irremediable condition for the purposes of MAID.

Therefore, petitioners have signed this petition, and it is an honour for me to present it.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from dozens of Canadians in support of Bill C-218, which is commonly referred to as the right to recover act.

The petitioners recognize that the Canadian government intends to expand medical assistance in dying to individuals whose sole medical condition is mental illness. They also recognize that mental illness is treatable and curable. The experts have acknowledged that there is no way to determine when mental illness is irremediable.

The petitioners are asking the government to not proceed with its intention to make mental illness a sole underlying condition for the expansion of MAID. They would like all parliamentarians to support Bill C-218, which would permanently remove that possibility from being considered.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition in support of Bill C-218, the right to recover act. Petitioners are concerned with the planned expansion of medical assistance in dying to those whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness. They note that mental illness can be treatable, that recovery is possible and that many Canadians still face barriers to accessing timely mental health care. Petitioners are concerned that vulnerable Canadians could seek MAID before receiving the treatment they so badly need. They therefore call on the government to pass Bill C-218 and permanently exclude mental illness alone for MAID eligibility.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the last petition that I am tabling has been signed by 25 people, including several constituents of my Vancouver East riding, who share with me their support and calls to the House regarding Bill C-218.

The petitioners say Canadians with mental illness should be provided with treatment and support, mental illness is complex and can include suicidal ideation as a symptom, and they are concerned that the lives of Canadians with mental illness will be at risk when they are eligible for medical assistance in dying on the basis of mental illness alone, especially when treatment and support are not readily available.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Conservative members of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying to table, in both official languages, our supplementary opinion. Conservatives welcome the committee's recommendation that individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness be indefinitely excluded from eligibility for medical assistance in dying. This will save thousands of lives.

This is the position that Conservatives have held from the beginning. Conservatives opposed the Senate amendment to Bill C-7, which set this proposed expansion in motion. We have consistently echoed the warnings of experts that the expansion cannot be implemented safely. We call on the government to accept the committee's recommendation and support Bill C-218, which is already before the House and which would accomplish the policy objective the committee recommends. Conservatives are prepared to work collaboratively with the government to that end.

Our supplementary opinion also notes that over the course of the committee study, as we were examining system readiness for expansion, many witnesses questioned the effectiveness and enforceability of the current MAID safeguards. Conservatives encourage the government to undertake a review of the current safeguards to ensure that no vulnerable Canadians fall through the cracks of a system that is supposed to protect them.

Mental Health

[Chak Au, Conservative, Richmond Centre—Marpole, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by nearly 1,000 Canadians, mainly from my riding of Richmond Centre—Marpole, who are concerned about mental health and about suicide prevention in Canada.

The petitioners note that one in five Canadians experiences a mental health challenge each year, that many youth are affected and that suicide remains the second-leading cause of death among Canadians aged 15 to 34. They believe that people struggling with mental illness deserve treatment, support and a message of hope, not an option of death.

Therefore, the petitioners call upon the House of Commons to support Bill C-218 to exclude mental illness from MAID, and to invest in critical resources in mental health services for Canadians.

I thank the petitioners for bringing this important matter before Parliament.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Jamil Jivani, Conservative, Bowmanville—Oshawa North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition in support of Conservative bill, Bill C-218, also known as the right to recover act.

Canadians are rightly concerned about the Liberal government's plans to expand euthanasia to people whose only medical condition is a mental illness. With this petition, they are urging the government to change course, to not expand euthanasia to even more people and, instead, turn to offering more services and more accessible health care.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present on behalf of my constituents is regarding Bill C-218 and MAID. My constituents are deeply concerned about the proposed expansion of medical assistance in dying to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness.

Petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to support Bill C-218 and halt the expansion of MAID for people with only mental illness as their underlying condition.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise, as it always is, on behalf of the wonderful individuals and parishioners of St. Margaret's Parish in Midland, Ontario, many of whom I hold dearly. These petitioners are concerned with the expansion of medical assistance in dying to those whose sole underlying illness is mental illness. They are encouraging the government and Canadians to support those living with mental illness with supports as opposed to offering them MAID and encourage all legislators in the House and the government to support Bill C-218.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I am presenting today is signed by Canadians who are deeply concerned about the Liberal government's planned expansion of medical assistance in dying to persons whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

The petitioners call on the government to support the right to recover act, Bill C-218, and halt this dangerous expansion. Hope is always possible and that is why we are urging Parliament to prioritize suicide prevention and improve access to mental health supports for vulnerable Canadians.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present the first petition from residents of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, a community I am very honoured to represent and live in. The petitioners are calling upon the House of Commons to support Bill C-218, to exclude mental illness or disorder from MAID, and to invest resources into mental health services.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present on behalf of my constituents from Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge and Mission.

The first one regards Bill C-218. The petitioners state that Canadians with mental illness should be provided with treatment and support. They state that mental illness is complex and includes suicidal thoughts as a symptom. The lives of Canadians with mental illness will be at risk when they are eligible for medical assistance in dying on the basis of mental illness alone, especially when treatment and support are not readily available.

[Jim Belanger, Conservative, Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is in support of my colleague from Cloverdale—Langley City's private member's bill, Bill C-218.

The petitioners urge the government to support this bill, which would reverse the expansion of medical assistance in dying eligibility to individuals whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness and, instead, prioritize access to appropriate treatment, care and mental health supports.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from dozens of Canadians who are concerned about mental illness and recognize that mental illness is a serious and real illness, but who are calling on the House to support Bill C-218, which would reverse the law extending eligibility for MAID to people with mental illness as their sole underlying medical condition. They believe that mental illness should be treated and not given a death sentence.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by Nipissing—Timiskaming residents who wish to draw the attention of the House to Bill C-218. The petitioners express concern regarding proposed amendments that may affect eligibility criteria and existing safeguards as they relate to the protection of vulnerable persons, particularly those suffering from mental illnesses.

Accordingly, the petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to uphold strong safeguards, ensure continued parliamentary review and approach any legislative changes to medical assistance in dying with caution, transparency and respect for charter principles as they address matters involving end-of-life decision-making.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, in the petition I am presenting today, petitioners are recognizing that the Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying to individuals whose only medical condition is mental illness. Mental illness is treatable, recovery is possible and experts agree that it is currently impossible to predict when a mental illness is truly irremediable.

Expanding MAID in this way risks suggesting that some lives are beyond saving, while many Canadians still struggle to access timely and effective mental health care. The petitioners say that families and communities are concerned that people who would recover through treatment and support may instead lose their life, and they are asking the Government of Canada to pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

I support the petitioners.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present this petition on behalf of my constituents calling on the government to support Bill C-218. The petitioners write that Canadians with mental illnesses should be provided with treatment and support, that mental illness is complex and can include suicidal thoughts as symptoms, and that the lives of Canadians with mental illnesses will be at risk when they are eligible for medical assistance in dying on the basis of mental illness alone, especially when treatment and support are not readily available.

Therefore, the petitioners call on the House of Commons to support Bill C-218, which would reverse the law extending eligibility for MAID to people with a mental illness as their sole medical condition.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of individuals who also support the member for Cloverdale—Langley City's bill, Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code with respect to medical assistance in dying.

They understand that the Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying, or MAID, to individuals whose only medical condition is mental illness. Mental illness, they say, is treatable; recovery is possible, and experts agree that it is currently impossible to predict when a mental illness is truly irremediable. They are calling on the government on behalf of families and communities who are concerned that people who could recover through treatment and support may instead lose their lives.

Bill C-218, the right to recover act, would amend the Criminal Code to ensure that mental illness alone is not considered a grievous and irremediable condition for the purpose of MAID. Therefore, they, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to those whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to table a petition on behalf of constituents in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford who are deeply concerned about the proposed expansion of medical assistance in dying to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. My constituents fear that expanding MAID in this way risks normalizing suicide as a response to mental illness. They believe instead that Canada should prioritize and strengthen mental health supports for those who are suffering. They therefore call on the government to support Bill C-218 and halt the expansion of MAID to those with a mental illness.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my first petition is in support of the member for Cloverdale—Langley City's private member's bill, Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding medical assistance in dying.

These individuals say that the Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying to individuals whose only medical condition is a mental illness. The petitioners say mental illness is treatable, recovery is possible and experts agree that it is currently impossible to predict when a mental illness is truly irremediable. They have brought forward other issues as well. All this supports the request that the Government of Canada pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to those whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.

[Dan Muys, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is also from residents of Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North in support of Bill C-218. These Canadians want people who have conditions of mental illness provided with proper treatment and not offered assisted suicide. They ask the House to support Bill C-218, which would do that.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. He is absolutely correct on that point.

The Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying to individuals whose only medical condition is a mental illness. Mental illness is treatable, recovery is possible and experts agree that it is currently impossible to predict when a mental illness is truly irremediable. Petitioners have many reasons to suggest that this bill is not in the best interests of Canadians. Families and communities are concerned that people who could recover through treatment and support may instead lose their lives.

Bill C-218, the right to recover act, would amend the Criminal Code to ensure that mental illness alone is not considered a grievous and irremediable condition for the purpose of MAID. Therefore, these individuals are calling upon the Government of Canada to pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to those whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am standing on behalf of individuals who are in support of MP Tamara Jansen's private member's bill, Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code with respect to medical assistance in dying. The Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying to individuals whose only medical condition is a mental illness. However, petitioners say that it is treatable, recovery is possible, and experts agree it is currently impossible to predict when a mental illness is truly irremediable. Expanding MAID in this way risks suggesting that some lives are beyond saving while many Canadians still struggle to access timely—

[Dan Muys, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise and to present a petition on behalf of residents of Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North who write in support of Bill C-218, an excellent bill by my friend and colleague, the hon. member for Cloverdale—Langley City, which seeks to stop the expansion of medical assistance in dying to people with mental illness. We believe that it would be an egregious expansion; that there should be supports offered to people who have mental illness, such as suicide prevention and other supports; and that it is not necessary to make that expansion.

It is an honour to present the petition from constituents on that issue.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions. The first is from Canadians who are profoundly concerned about the government's plan to expand medical assistance in dying to people whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. The petitioners make their position clear. They state that mental illness is by nature treatable and recovery is possible. They warn that expanding MAID in these circumstances risks normalizing the idea that people struggling with mental illness should be offered assisted dying instead of suicide prevention treatment.

Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to adopt Bill C-218, ensuring that mental illness is not classified as a grievous and irremediable condition for the purposes of MAID.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today on behalf of constituents from Hague, Osler, Warman and Rosthern, to table a petition on their behalf.

The petitioners believe that Canadians who find themselves struggling with mental illness should be given support and resources to address the challenges they face. They also believe that vulnerable Canadians deserve compassion and care, and should not be offered medical assistance in dying. As such, they call on this House to support Bill C-218.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians with mental illness should be provided with treatment and support. Mental illness is a complex that can include suicidal thoughts as a symptom. The lives of many Canadians with mental illness are at risk when they are eligible for medical assistance in dying.

Therefore, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada call upon the House to support Bill C-218, which would reverse the law extending eligibility for MAID to those suffering from mental illness.