On March 17, 2021, the acting Governor General and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court signed Bill C-7 into law. As a result, Canadians no longer must have a reasonably foreseeable death in order to be eligible for medical assistance in dying; There are now two sets of safeguards in place: One for those whose death is reasonably foreseeable, and one for those who death is not reasonably foreseeable; Canadians with a reasonably foreseeable death, who have been assessed and approved for medical assistance in dying, but risk losing the capacity to consent prior to the MAID procedure, will be able to sign a waiver of final consent; During the two-year mental illness exclusion, the Government of Canada will hear from experts and develop safeguards and protocols for people who seek access to MAID, but whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.
A triumph of compassion and choice: Bill C-7 receives Royal Assent
The results of the federal government’s January 2020 consultation on MAID
An infographic that highlights the changes to Canada’s assisted dying legislation
Legislative Background: Bill C-7: Government of Canada’s Legislative Response to the Superior Court of Québec Truchon Decision
Bill C-7: An act to amend the criminal code