The Timeline to Doctor Assisted Suicide in Canada

The Road to MAiD (Medical Aid in Dying)…

Regarding the actual legislative journey to MAiD, here is the quick run down:

1993: Supreme Court of Canada ruled unanimously against the “right to die” in Rodriguez vs. British Columbia.

2005: Private Members Bill to legalize assisted suicide introduced — overwhelmingly rejected.

2009: Re-introduced the Private Members Bill — again, overwhelmingly rejected by Liberal, Progressive Conservative, and NDP MP’s.

2015: Supreme Court of Canada unanimously overturned the ban on euthanasia — Carter vs Canada — ruling “The prohibition of medical assistance in dying violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

2016, June: Parliament adopts Bill C-14 — an Act to establish and legalize Medical Aid in Dying — 190, for, 108, against.

Conscience Rights protection was not included in Bill C-14. A Motion to amend the Bill to include protection of conscience rights for doctors/medical staff involved was introduced by the Conservatives, but it was defeated. The motion was supported by all CPC MP’s, 5 NDP’s, and Elizabeth May, the Leader of the Green Party. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who claimed to be Roman Catholic, voted against the amendment.