Full Breakdown
Former Quebec Premier Questions the Expansion of Canada’s MAID Laws
By Drooid · · How we work
Couillard’s Regret Over MAID’s Broadening Scope
Former Quebec premier Philippe Couillard—who led the Liberal government when the province passed Canada’s first medically assisted dying (MAID) law in 2014—now says he sometimes doubts that decision.
Evolution of MAID Legislation in Canada
Quebec’s 2014 law was introduced by the Parti Québécois and adopted with multiparty support while Couillard’s Liberals were in power. Two years later, the federal government enacted its own MAID framework after a 2015 Supreme Court ruling found a total ban unconstitutional. That federal law was struck down by the Superior Court of Quebec in 2019 for limiting MAID to “reasonably foreseeable” deaths, prompting a revised federal act in 2021. Quebec advanced further in 2024 by permitting advance requests for MAID before a person loses decision-making capacity, such as in cases of Alzheimer’s disease.
Official Statements from Government Officials
Justice Minister Sean Fraser announced that the federal government will not move forward with extending MAID to individuals whose sole condition is mental illness, a stance that has drawn both criticism from MAID advocates and approval from many medical professionals. Fraser also said new legislation will “open the door” for advance consent where provinces allow, emphasizing the federal role in defining criminal conduct rather than delivering services.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We need to create space for people to be able to provide consent when they know they're going to lose capacity in order to live out their remaining years rather than being put in a position where they fear they have to take that decision prematurely,” — Sean Fraser, justice minister
These remarks underscore the government’s intent to balance expanded patient autonomy with cautious legislative boundaries. The ongoing debate reflects a broader societal conversation about the limits of assisted dying and the safeguards needed as the practice evolves.