There were approximately 16,000 Canadian euthanasia deaths in 2023 and more than 60,000 since legalization.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Based on euthanasia data from Quebec, Ontario and Alberta, I predict that there were approximately 16,000 Canadian euthanasia deaths in 2023 and more than 60,000 euthanasia deaths since legalization. There were 13,241 Canadian euthanasia deaths in 2022.

The Quebec Commission on End-of-Life Care released it's Eighth Annual Report which indicated that there were 5211 reported euthanasia deaths (April 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023) which was up from 3663 in the previous year (April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022). According to the data there have been 15,997 reported euthanasia deaths from legalization until March 31, 2023 in Quebec.

This represents more than a 42% increase in Québec euthanasia deaths in 2023 representing 6.8% of all Québec deaths, which is the highest in the world.

The report also indicates that from April 1 - June 30, 2023 the number of reported Quebec euthanasia deaths increased by another 24%, a slower pace of growth, but substantial considering the massive number of euthanasia deaths.

Shockingly, 15% of those who died by euthanasia in Quebec were not terminally ill.

The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario released the December 2023 MAiD data indicating that there were 4641 reported euthanasia deaths in 2023 which was by 18% from 3934 reported euthanasia deaths in 2022.

The Ontario euthanasia data indicates that there have been 18,373 (MAiD) deaths since legalization in June 2016. For clarity, there were 18,370 euthanasia deaths and 3 assisted suicide deaths.

Euthanasia is done by a doctor or nurse injecting a person, usually upon request, with a lethal poison cocktail.

Assisted suicide is done by a doctor or nurse prescribing a person, usually upon request, a lethal poison cocktail that the person would take themselves.

According to the data, of the 4641 reported euthanasia deaths in 2023, 116 were people who were not terminally ill, 28 of the deaths were followed by organ donation and the final consent was waived in 191 deaths. The final consent is waived when a person may become incompetent.

The Alberta Health Services data indicates that there were 977 reported assisted death in 2023 which was up by more than 18% from 836 reported assisted deaths in 2022 and 594 in 2021.

The Alberta data indicates that there has been 3914 reported (MAiD) deaths since legalization in June 2016.

Canada was planning to institute euthanasia for mental illness alone on March 17, 2024, but Canada's Health Minister, Mark Holland, has introduced a bill that would delay the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness until March, 2027.

We hope that this is the first sign of a government that will stop the expansion of euthanasia in Canada.

Euthanasia is out of control in Canada. 2023 update:

In December, a BC cancer patient died by euthanasia after BC Cancer couldn't provide him chemotherapy (Link). Waiting lists for cancer treatment in Canada continues to get worse.

In October, Bill C-314, that would have prevented euthanasia for mental illness, was defeated (Link). Also in October, Health Canada reported that there were 13,241 assisted deaths in 2022 representing 4.1% of all deaths (Link).

In August we reported that a Vancouver woman was offered euthanasia as a "treatment" during a mental health crisis (Link). 

In July a Canadian military veteran slammed the Canadian government for the euthanasia deaths of veterans with PTSD (Link). 

In June we reported that a Canadian quadriplegic woman was approved for euthanasia as she waited to be approved for disability benefits to enable her to live (Link). We also reported that the euthanasia lobby had launched a campaign to force a Catholic hospital in BC to provide euthanasia (Link). *In December, the BC government expropriated property from the Catholic hospital to build a killing center next to the Catholic hospital (Link).

In May we reported that a Québec funeral home was offering euthanasia (Link). 

In February, Canada's Special Joint Committee on Medical Aid in Dying issued a report calling on parliament to extend euthanasia to "mature minors" and by advanced directive (Link). According to the report, Canadian children would be able to be euthanized with or without parental consent (Link). 

In January we reported that a Vancouver doctor euthanized a man who was deemed to be incapable of consenting (Link). We also reported on Tyler Dunlop who was homeless and seeking death by euthanasia (Link).

*In December, Tyler Dunlop, who had applied to die by euthanasia, published a book titled: Therefore Choose Life - My Journey from Hopelessness to Hope (Link). Order the book from EPC (Order Link).