Canada Reintroduces Bill C-7 to Expand Assisted Dying (MAID)

Author: Department of Justice Canada
Published: 7 Oct 2020 - Updated: 4 Nov 2026
Publication Type: Announcement / Notification

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information outlines the October 2020 reintroduction of Bill C-7, the Government of Canada's proposed amendments to the Criminal Code provisions on medical assistance in dying (MAID), announced by the federal ministers responsible for justice, health and disability inclusion. Main findings include removing the requirement that natural death be reasonably foreseeable, creating two tracks of procedural safeguards depending on whether death is foreseeable, excluding people whose sole condition is mental illness, allowing a waiver of final consent in some cases, and expanding federal data collection. It matters because the bill responded to the 2019 Truchon ruling of the Superior Court of Quebec and directly affected people with disabilities and chronic conditions whose deaths are not imminent, a group the government said it would also support through enhanced disability services and a national Disability Inclusion Plan. The outline is useful for patients, families, caregivers and seniors trying to understand how Canadian eligibility rules were reshaped.*

At a Glance

1 - Cancer was the most common condition cited in MAID requests.
2 - Over 300,000 Canadians took part in the January 2020 online consultations.
3 - About 82.1 percent of people who received MAID had also received palliative care.
4 - Questions about advance requests, mature minors and mental illness were left for a later parliamentary review of the law.

Topic Definition

Medical Assistance in Dying: Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is the Canadian legal framework that allows an eligible adult with a grievous and irremediable medical condition to receive help from a physician or nurse practitioner to end their life, either by the practitioner administering a substance or by prescribing one that the person takes themselves. Eligibility requires informed consent, decision-making capacity and enduring, intolerable suffering, and the process is governed by procedural safeguards in the Criminal Code that differ depending on whether the person's natural death is reasonably foreseeable.

Overview

The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, and the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, have reintroduced proposed changes to Canada's Criminal Code provisions on MAID. These changes are the same as those proposed by Bill C-7 in the previous parliamentary session.

The Reintroduced Bill Proposes To:

1. Remove the requirement for a person's natural death to be reasonably foreseeable in order to be eligible for MAID

2. Introduce a two-track approach to procedural safeguards based on whether or not a person's natural death is reasonably foreseeable

a. existing safeguards will be maintained and certain ones will be eased for eligible persons whose death is reasonably foreseeable
b. new and modified safeguards will be introduced for eligible persons whose death is not reasonably foreseeable

3. exclude eligibility for individuals suffering solely from mental illness

4. allow the waiver of final consent for eligible persons whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable and who may lose capacity to consent before MAID can be provided

5. expand data collection through the federal monitoring regime to provide a more complete picture of MAID in Canada

The proposed amendments would respond to the Superior Court of Quebec's September 2019 Truchon decision by expanding eligibility for MAID to individuals whose death is not reasonably foreseeable. In cases where a person's death is not reasonably foreseeable, the amended procedural safeguards would require practitioners to take appropriate steps to ensure that the request for MAID is fully informed and considered, and that individuals making the request have given serious consideration to reasonable and available treatment options.

The Bill reflects emerging societal consensus and was informed by views and concerns raised by Canadians, experts, practitioners, stakeholders, Indigenous groups, as well as provinces and territories during the public consultations undertaken in January and February 2020. It is also informed by the past four years of experience with MAID in Canada.

If passed by Parliament, the Government of Canada would continue to work closely with provinces and territories, health system partners, and health practice regulatory bodies to support the implementation of the proposed changes to the legislation. This includes the development of monitoring, reporting, best practices, and guidance for the MAID regime. In addition, the federal government will work with provincial and territorial partners to enhance disability support.

Other important questions relating to MAID in Canada - such as advance requests for persons newly diagnosed with a condition that could affect their decision-making capacity in the future, eligibility for persons suffering solely from mental illness and eligibility for mature minors - could be considered during a broader parliamentary review of MAID legislation, as required by the original legislation passed in 2016.

Quotes

"The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges for all Canadians. This includes the disruption of the legislative process to review the proposed changes to Canada's MAID legislation. We understand MAID is a deeply personal issue that touches individuals and families. The Government of Canada remains committed to making the necessary changes to the federal MAID legislation. This is why we have reintroduced these important proposed amendments, which aim to reduce suffering, while also supporting individual autonomy and freedom of choice."
The Honorable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., M.P. - Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

"While COVID-19 has disrupted our lives, it was important for the government to reintroduce this legislation. The feedback we received from individuals, experts, advocacy groups, health professionals and other key stakeholders helped us shape legislation that respects the autonomy of Canadians and protects vulnerable people."
The Honorable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P. - Minister of Health.

"Medical assistance in dying is a human rights issue. The proposed legislation recognizes the equality rights of personal autonomy and the inherent and equal value of every life. This legislation also recognizes the significant role that social, mental health, disability and community support services play in the full realization of these rights. In doing so, it remains true to the principles of the Accessible Canada Act that everyone must be treated with dignity; everyone must have meaningful options and be free to make their own choices; and everyone must have the same opportunity to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have, regardless of their disabilities. As we move forward to meet the Court-imposed deadline, we will continue to work with the disability community, and not shy away from the long-overdue conversations that we need to have in our country with respect to disability inclusion and systemic disability discrimination. We will also take action by bringing forward the first-ever national Disability Inclusion Plan."
The Honorable Carla Qualtrough, P.C., M.P. - Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion.

Quick Facts

MAID became legal in Canada in June 2016. The current legislation sets out eligibility criteria for those who wish to apply for MAID, as well as safeguards physicians and nurse practitioners must follow.
On July 24, 2020, Health Canada released the First Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada (2019) which is the first report using data collected under the Regulations for the Monitoring of MAID.
Since June 2016, there have been more than 13,000 reported medically assisted deaths in Canada. This figure is based on voluntarily reported data from the provinces and territories prior to November 1, 2018, and data collected under the new monitoring regime after that date.
MAID deaths as a percentage of all deaths in Canada remains consistent with other international assisted-dying regimes.
Cancer is the most frequently cited underlying medical condition, followed by respiratory, neurological and cardiovascular conditions.
The majority of individuals receiving MAID (82.1%) were reported to have received palliative care services.
In January and February 2020, the Government of Canada engaged with provinces, territories, Canadians, Indigenous groups, key stakeholders, experts, and practitioners to receive their feedback on expanding Canada's MAID framework.

- Over 300,000 Canadians participated in the online public consultations between January 13 and 27, 2020.

- Ministers Lametti, Hajdu and Qualtrough, and their Parliamentary Secretaries, also met with stakeholders, experts, practitioners, and Indigenous groups to consult them directly on revising Canada's federal MAID legislation.

- The federal government will continue to engage with the provinces and territories, both through federal, provincial, and territorial ministers, and through an officials' level intergovernmental working group on medical assistance in dying.

The proposed amendments would become law once they have gone through the legislative process in Parliament and received Royal Assent.
The Council of Canadian Academies completed reviews in three areas where MAID was not allowed under the 2016 legislation: requests by mature minors, advance requests, and requests where a mental disorder is the sole underlying medical condition.
Canada's current MAID legislation requires a parliamentary review of the law's provisions, as well as the state of palliative care in Canada, by one or more committees, starting at the beginning of the fifth year after becoming law. This review would allow for further public engagement and parliamentary study on all aspects of MAID in Canada.

Update

Bill C-7 received Royal Assent on March 17, 2021, and the changes described above became law. The exclusion of people whose only underlying condition is a mental illness was made temporary; Parliament has since extended it, and eligibility for that group is now scheduled for March 17, 2027. The figure of more than 13,000 medically assisted deaths covers June 2016 to late 2019; Health Canada publishes current figures in its annual reports on medical assistance in dying.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

Who can provide MAID in Canada?

Physicians and nurse practitioners can assess eligibility and provide MAID in Canada. Pharmacists may dispense the medications, and other health professionals can assist under the direction of the practitioner.

Is MAID available to people visiting Canada?

No, a person must be eligible for publicly funded health services in Canada to receive MAID. This rule is intended to prevent people from traveling to Canada solely to access an assisted death.

What is the difference between MAID and palliative care?

Palliative care focuses on relieving pain and other symptoms and improving quality of life, without hastening death. MAID is a separate legal option that ends life at the request of an eligible person, and many recipients also receive palliative care beforehand.

Can a person change their mind after requesting MAID?

Yes, a person can withdraw a request at any time and in any manner. Practitioners must give the person a chance to withdraw consent immediately before MAID is provided, unless a valid waiver of final consent applies.

What was the Truchon decision?

Truchon v. Attorney General of Canada was a 2019 Superior Court of Quebec ruling that found the reasonably foreseeable death requirement unconstitutional. The ruling prompted the federal government to amend the Criminal Code through Bill C-7.

Do health professionals have to take part in MAID?

No, health professionals are not compelled to provide or assist in MAID, and conscientious objection is recognized. Rules on referral vary by province and professional regulatory body.

How is MAID data collected and reported?

Health Canada collects information from practitioners and pharmacists under federal monitoring regulations and publishes an annual report on MAID. The reports describe the number of provisions, the conditions involved and the characteristics of recipients.

Where can people with disabilities find support before considering MAID?

Provincial health ministries, disability organizations, palliative care programs and mental health services can help people explore treatment, income, housing and care supports. Speaking with a trusted health provider is an important first step.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Bill C-7 became one of the most debated pieces of Canadian health legislation in recent years, and its story did not end with this announcement. The bill received Royal Assent in March 2021, and the temporary exclusion of people whose only condition is a mental illness has since been extended by Parliament, with eligibility for that group now set for March 2027. For people with disabilities, the central issue has been whether access to an assisted death is matched by real access to housing, income support, home care and palliative services, since a choice made without support is not a free choice. Anyone considering or discussing MAID in Canada should check the current federal and provincial rules, which have changed several times since 2016.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally issued as a press release by Department of Justice Canada and published on 7 Oct 2020. Last updated on 4 Nov 2026. This content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.