Alberta Justice Minister will legislate Provincial euthanasia (MAiD) oversight.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Hon. Mickey Amery with Premier Smith

Jack Farrell reported for the Canadian Press on September 25, 2025 that Alberta's Justice Minister, Mickey Amery, will introduce new legislation on euthanasia, (MAID), that would give the government greater control and oversight of the program. Farrell reports:

A new mandate letter to Mickey Amery from Premier Danielle Smith says the legislation should introduce "appropriate safeguards" and prohibit mental illness from being a sole eligibility factor.

The letter doesn't provide detail on what safeguards the province is looking to implement or what kind of oversight it wants to have.

Farrell reported that Amery did not provide specifics but stated in an email that:

health care falls under provincial jurisdiction and that federal rules are insufficient in "providing the necessary oversights and safeguards to protect vulnerable Canadians."

Mental illness has never been an approved sole eligibility factor for MAID, though the federal government has considered permitting it.

When Canada's parliament passed Bill C-7, in March 2021, the new law extended euthanasia to people with mental illness alone. Since then the federal government has delayed the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness alone until March 17, 2027.

Sign the petition supporting Bill C-218 (Petition Link).

On June 20, 2025 Tamara Jansen (MP) introduced Bill C-218 in the House of Commons to reverse the law permitting euthanasia for mental illness alone that is scheduled to begin on March 17, 2027 in Canada. (Article Link). 

Bill C-218 handout for Members of Parliament (Link).

Farrell reported that Alberta statistics indicate that there have been just over 5000 Alberta citizens who have died by euthanasia since legalization. The provincial data, referred to by Farrell indicates that there were 5031 reported Alberta euthanasia deaths from legalization in 2016 until December 31, 2024.

Based on the fact that in 2024 there were 1117 Alberta euthanasia deaths, it is likely that Alberta is now approaching 6000 euthanasia deaths since legalization.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition will comment on the legislation when the bill is released.