Think tanks and pro-life groups are lamenting the defeat of a Conservative bill which would prevent the expansion of assisted suicide to those who suffer from mental illness.
Conservative MP Ed Fast’s Bill C-314 would have amended the Criminal Code in relation to assisted suicide provisions to not classify mental disorders as a “a grievous and irremediable medical condition for which a person could receive medical assistance in dying.”
On Wednesday, the bill was defeated on its second reading in the House of Commons with 167 MPs opposing it and 150 MPs supporting.
In a statement following the bill’s defeat, the non-partisan think tank Cardus called the result a “tragic mistake” that ignores where a majority of Canadians stand on the issue.
“Parliament should have listened to the unacceptably high number of Canadians who say they encounter barriers in accessing mental health care — or the 64% of Canadians who fear those with mental illness will become even more vulnerable when euthanasia and assisted suicide become available to them next March,” said Cardus Health Program Director Rebecca Vachon.
“By not even voting to send the bill for further consideration at committee, Parliament has demonstrated an unwillingness to listen to these very real concerns about providing death for mental illness when Canadians still have problems accessing proper care for life with mental illness.”
A recent poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute in partnership with Cardus found that a vast majority of Canadians opposed expanding assisted suicide to the mentally ill. A whopping 88% said that those who suffer from mental illness should have other treatment alternatives.
On X, the pro-life not-for-profit group RightNow also denounced the result of the vote, pointing to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s former pledge to bar the mentally ill from accessing assisted suicide should he be elected.
“Conservative MP Ed Fasts’s Bill C-314, to prevent assisted-suicide to expand to the mentally ill, has just been defeated in Parliament by a vote of 150-167. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said that if C-314 fails, a government led by him would introduce legislation to repeal MAID for the mentally ill,” posted RightNow.
The disability rights group Inclusion Canada expressed disappointment with the vote on Wednesday, calling on Canadians to contact their MPs to prevent assisted suicide being provided to those who suffer from mental illness.
“We’re disappointed to see Bill C-314 narrowly defeated at Second Reading. Thank you to the 150 MPs from all parties who voted in support of reconsidering MAiD for mental illness as a sole underlying medical condition. It takes courage to change courses,” posted Inclusion Canada.
“To those concerned with the legalization of MAiD for mental illness – we were 17 votes short today. Talk to your MP. You can make the difference.”
