Bill C-218 was defeated. Your advocacy made a difference.

This message was received from Tamara Jansen (MP) thanking people who advocated in support of Bill C-218. Your advocacy made a difference.

If you saw last week’s headlines, you may have thought Canadians struggling with mental illness were finally protected from MAiD.

I wish I could tell you that protection was now law.

On the morning of the vote on Bill C-218, the Liberals announced that they would introduce their own legislation to stop MAiD for people whose only underlying medical condition is a mental illness. But their announcement came with a deeply troubling condition: they intend to expand MAiD at the same time.

Canada already has one of the most permissive assisted-dying systems in the world. Serious concerns about safeguards remain, while Canadians struggle to access mental health treatment, disability supports and timely medical care.

Why is the government planning another expansion when so many people cannot get the care they need? 

Bill C-218 offered Parliament a focused way to protect Canadians struggling with mental illness. Instead of sending it to committee for study, the Liberals voted it down in favour of a promised bill Parliament has not yet seen. 

The March 17, 2027 deadline remains. Unless new legislation passes before then, MAiD will become legal for people whose only underlying medical condition is a mental illness.

By tying that urgently needed protection to a further expansion of MAiD, the Liberals are forcing Parliament to accept another expansion with little time for scrutiny and debate, or risk leaving vulnerable Canadians unprotected. 

I am deeply disappointed that C-218 was defeated. It was exactly the sort of bill that could have saved lives.

But I want you to know that your efforts mattered. Your letters, calls, prayers and conversations helped put pressure on the government to commit to stopping that expansion.

Now we must hold them to that commitment. Canadians should not have to accept a further expansion of MAiD to secure protection for people struggling with mental illness. 

I will keep pressing for that protection to become law before the deadline to ensure Canadians are offered treatment, support and the opportunity to recover.

👉 Watch my response following the vote:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1KZfwBUgvT/ 

👉 Watch my press conference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fuWS1pz_ec

 

Thank you for standing with me. We have more work to do, and I remain determined to defend the right to recover.

With gratitude,

MP Tamara Jansen
Cloverdale—Langley City