Liberals to outline plans on assisted dying ahead of mental illness expansion

The Liberal government of Canada is set to announce its stance on allowing individuals with mental illness to access assisted dying ahead of a looming parliamentary vote. Justice Minister Sean Fraser and Health Minister Marjorie Michel are slated to present their "path forward" on Wednesday, when the House of Commons will debate a private member's bill aimed at blocking the expansion.

A committee of MPs and Senators concluded in June that people with mental illness should be permanently excluded from the medical assistance in dying (MAID) program, citing difficulties in determining when a mental illness is irremediable. This recommendation was endorsed by both Conservative and Liberal members of the committee.

The Conservative private member's bill, backed by MPs Tamara Jansen and Andrew Lawton, seeks to prevent the expansion of MAID eligibility. The government's stance on the legislation remains uncertain.