Alberta Bill 18 will provide limits to euthanasia.

Alberta Bill 18: Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Alberta's Minister of Justice, Mickey Amery, introduced Bill 18: the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act (today) on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

Bill 18 is designed to create greater oversight of (MAiD) euthanasia in Alberta through provincial powers and will accomplish a few key outcomes. Bill 18 will:

• require the individual to have a 12 month terminal prognosis, thus preventing Track 2 euthanasia approvals. Track 2 refers to euthanasia for people who are not terminally ill.
• prevent the expansion of euthanasia to people with mental illness alone, 
• prevent the expansion of euthanasia to "mature minors", 
• prevent euthanasia for people who cannot consent.
• prevent euthanasia by advanced request.
• prevent out of province referrals,
• require the assessor to contact other practitioners who have cared for the patient, before approval.
• require (MAiD) euthanasia practitioners to receive specific training,
• prevent health care practitioners from introducing euthanasia, without a request,
• require Regulatory Colleges to sanction practitioners who violate the act.
• provide conscience rights by enabling practitioners to refuse to participate or provide assessments for (MAiD) euthanasia,
• enable institutions to refuse to participate or provide assessments for euthanasia,
• require practitioners who refuse to participate or provide assessments to provide information to patients wanting to access euthanasia.

Alberta Health Services released its 2025 (MAiD) euthanasia data indicating that there were 1,242 reported euthanasia deaths in Alberta which was up by more than 11% from 1,117 in 2024. Alberta represents 11.8% of Canada's population.

Based on the data, as of March 18, 2026 there has likely been more than 6500 Alberta euthanasia deaths since legalization.

Bill 18 doesn't prohibit euthanasia but it provides reasonable controls over euthanasia, while preventing euthanasia for people who are not terminally ill or living with mental illness as their sole underlying condition, and it prevents further expansions of euthanasia in Alberta. 

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition supports Bill 18 and we urge other Canadian provinces to follow Alberta's lead.

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.