Surrey MP Opens Debate on Bill to Block MAiD Expansion

Debate Begins on Conservative Bill to Restrict MAiD Expansion

Cloverdale Langley City MP Tamara Jansen opened debate in the House of Commons on her private member’s Bill C-218, which seeks to stop the planned expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). The debate took place on December 5, marking the first of two scheduled discussion periods in Parliament. The bill has now completed its second reading, advancing it toward further study.

The proposed legislation would change the Criminal Code so that a mental disorder can not be considered a “grievous and irremediable medical condition” for the purposes of accessing MAiD. This change would effectively block the government’s current plan to allow MAiD for individuals whose only condition is mental illness, a policy scheduled to take effect in March 2027. 

MP Jansen’s Arguments: Focus on Vulnerable People and Mental Health

In her remarks, Jansen argued that expanding MAiD to those with mental illness alone could place vulnerable people at risk, particularly those in acute psychological distress before they have had a full opportunity to receive treatment and support. She shared the story of a young Canadian whose mental health struggles were severe but eventually improved with care, and said she fears legal access to MAiD could short-circuit recovery for people who might otherwise find hope and healing. 

Supporters of the bill, including Conservative MP Andrew Lawton, also spoke emotionally about recovery from mental illness, describing how they survived their own crises and urging Parliament to prioritise prevention and support over an expanded assisted-dying regime. 

Government and Opposition Responses

Liberal and Bloc Québécois MPs responded during the debate by stressing the importance of evidence-based review and the role of a joint parliamentary committee looking at MAiD policy. Several government members said caution and further study are necessary but expressed confidence in the committee process and in the frameworks being developed to ensure safe practice once the expansion proceeds. 

The parliamentary committee established under Bill C-62 is mandated to hear expert testimony and produce recommendations before the 2026 deadline, and some MPs emphasised that it could provide a fuller picture of clinical and legal issues related to MAiD expansion. 

Broader Context: National Debate on MAiD and Mental Illness

The issue of allowing MAiD based solely on mental illness has been controversial across Canada. Experts, health advocates and some provinces have raised concerns about predicting irremediability in mental illness and whether health systems are prepared to provide sufficient safeguards and care.

In 2024 Ottawa delayed the planned expansion of MAiD for mental illness until March 2027, partly in response to such concerns. Jansen’s bill is intended to make that delay permanent by legally excluding mental disorders from MAiD eligibility.

Advocates on the other side argue that excluding mental illness from MAiD access could discriminate against Canadians whose suffering is severe and chronic, and have called for expanded safeguards and improved supports rather than outright prohibition. 

What Happens Next in Parliament

Bill C-218 now awaits further stages of the legislative process. If it passes the House of Commons second reading, it will move to committee for more detailed examination and possible amendment. Throughout that process MPs from all parties are expected to weigh evidence, expert testimony and public feedback as part of the ongoing national discussion on MAiD policy and mental health.

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