The majority of Canadians do not support (MAiD) euthanasia for mental illness.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Mario Canseco, the President of Research Co, was published by Business Intelligence for BC on October 30 with new polling indicating that most Canadians do not support (MAiD) euthanasia for mental illness. Conseco explains:

At this point, only an adult with a grievous and irremediable medical condition can seek medical assistance in dying in Canada. An expansion that would cover mental illness is expected to come into place in March 2027. Just over two in five Canadians (42 per cent, down one point) believe mental illness is a good reason for a person to request medical assistance in dying.

Bill C-7, which passed in March 2021, expanded euthanasia to mental illness alone, a provision that has been delayed until March 2027. According ot the poll, the majority of Canadians oppose (MAiD) euthanasia for mental illness.

Bill C-218 was introduced by Tamara Jansen (MP) to prevent euthanasia for mental illness in Canada. Contact your Member of Parliament to support Bill C-218, and Sign and share the petition supporting Bill C-218 (Petition Link).

Conseco further explains the poll results:

Larger proportions of Canadians would extend medical assistance in dying for people who request it due to disability (46 per cent, down four points) or an inability to receive medical treatment (49 per cent, down two points). Significantly fewer believe societal reasons, such as homelessness (26 per cent, down two points) or poverty (25 per cent, down two points) merit the same treatment.

Conseco explained that 24% of Canadians wanted the law expanded.

It is significant that the percentage of Canadians who oppose euthanasia, without exceptions, has increased to 18% while the percentage who always support euthanasia has decreased to 16%.

A similar poll was conducted by Research Co in April 2023.