Alberta Premier Danielle Smith opposes assisted-dying expansion as Ottawa eyes delay
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office says the province objects to Ottawa's plan to extend eligibility for medically assisted death to people whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness.
An update to assisted-dying law passed in 2021 included a two-year sunset clause that would see the expansion take effect this March.
Federal Justice Minister David Lametti is now seeking further delay because he says there are concerns that health-care systems might not be prepared, and the Liberal government wants to do more consultation.
Smith's office said it objects to Ottawa moving forward with expanding eligibility for assisted dying "without agreement" from Alberta.
"Given the government of Alberta's responsibility to deliver health-care services and to regulate the health-care profession, we object to the federal government moving forward with expanding … eligibility without agreement from the province," a statement from Smith's office said.
Her office said the province is consulting with experts about the potential effects that expanding eligibility would have on Alberta's health-care system.
Lametti's office says the courts have "made it clear that MAID is a Charter-protected right" but it is aware of the "concerns expressed by some experts about the need for greater protections of vulnerable people and would like a short delay."
His office says the Liberal government will work to pass a law to delay the expansion and collaborate with provincial and territorial counterparts so a "strong framework" is available when the expansion does happen.
Alberta appears to be the only province willing to object to the expansion of medical assistance in dying to people whose sole underlying condition is a mental disorder.
Ontario said in a statement the federal government is responsible for determining eligibility criteria and safeguards for medically assisted death.
"Ontario adheres to the requirements as dictated by federal legislation," said a statement from Hannah Jensen, press secretary for the province's Health Minister Sylvia Jones.
Some federal lawmakers have argued that excluding people with mental illness from access to assisted dying would violate their Charter right to equal treatment under the law.
When he announced the government's intention to delay the expansion, Lametti said he had heard concerns from health-care providers about the system's ability to handle the "more complex" cases.
"That includes having the time to implement those practice standards, and to complete and disseminate key resources that are being developed for clinicians and other health-care system partners," he said in December.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
Crypt near Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner could fetch US$400,000 at auction
A one-space mausoleum crypt in the vicinity of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner will go on auction Saturday, when it is expected to reach between US$200,000 and $400,000.
This Toronto restaurant is no longer accepting tips. Here's how it's going
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff – tipping is no longer accepted.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.