Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government took steps Wednesday to drastically restrict who’s eligible for medical assistance in dying.
Smith’s United Conservative Party government introduced a bill that, if passed, would limit medical assistance in dying, better known as MAID, to those likely to die of natural causes within a year.
Those under 18 would still be prohibited regardless of condition, in line with current federal rules.
Smith said the federal rules are missing the mark.
“I think that we’re failing in our duty to give people hope,” Smith told reporters before the bill was introduced in the house.
“We believe MAID must be a compassionate option reserved only for those who will not recover from terminal illness.”
The major limitation in Alberta’s bill resembles how Canada’s MAID program began in 2016.
Restricting access to MAID unless it was reasonably foreseeable that someone would die was ruled unconstitutional by a superior court judge in Quebec.
Ottawa then expanded eligibility in 2021.
The changes permit those suffering from a serious illness or disability that isn’t considered terminal and who are in an advanced state of unreversible decline to use MAID.
Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery said the Quebec decision isn’t binding on Alberta and his government would defend the bill in court if it’s challenged.
“We think that this bill finds the appropriate balance between allowing people who are eligible for the original intention of MAID to be able to seek that, but also to find a balance in protecting our vulnerable,” Amery told reporters.
Get weekly health news
The bill repeats many of the same safeguards in place under federal law, including the prohibition on children receiving MAID as well as those deemed unable to make their own health-care decisions.
Alberta would also restrict mental illness as a sole condition.
Ottawa had planned in 2024 to allow it — depending on certain criteria and other safeguards. But the final decision was delayed until next year as debate continues.
Smith said Alberta is acting now to prevent that possible change from taking effect in her province, saying she has “profound misgivings” about it.
Other care and treatment options are often available for those who aren’t facing a reasonably foreseeable death, she said.
“MAID should not become a permanent response to a moment of crisis or despair that can change with care and time,” Smith said.
Alberta Health Services says 1,242 people died through MAID in the province last year, though the statistics don’t break them down by eligibility factors.
The government says deaths in Alberta under Ottawa’s expanded eligibility rules increased by 136 per cent between 2021 and 2025.
More than outlawing MAID for certain circumstances, Alberta’s bill would also prohibit medical professionals from referring patients to providers in other provinces.
And it would create new professional sanctions for doctors and nurse practitioners that break provincial rules.
- Winnipeg councillor accused of sexual assault attends city hall meeting
- Watchdog finds little oversight over multi-billion-dollar Indigenous procurement program
- Ford government to table 2026 budget with warning of ‘tougher times’ ahead
- Calgary mayor says ‘target’ of RCMP probe isn’t ‘past or present’ member of council
Government officials said sanctions would range from mandatory training to losing a licence.
The bill would also require all medical professionals who provide MAID services to undergo new training.
It aims to prevent medical professionals from discussing MAID with patients unless they bring it up first.
It also restricts hospitals, doctors’ offices and continuing care homes from displaying information about MAID, such as on posters.
As with Ottawa’s rules, Alberta’s bill would prohibit requests made by patients in advance.
That includes people recently diagnosed with diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer’s who may want to provide their consent for MAID before they lose capacity to make the decision.
Quebec currently permits such requests.
Alberta’s bill also repeats that medical providers have the right to refuse patient evaluations in the MAID process and to refuse performing the procedure for religious or conscientious reasons.
A spokesperson for federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser said in a statement that Alberta has jurisdiction when it comes to providing health care.
“As for the federal government, Parliament is currently studying the question of eligibility expansion through (a special joint committee),” said Lola Dandybaeva.
“We will be guided by that process and its findings before any decisions are made about next steps.”
— With files from Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press
— More to come…
Just google “Danielle Smith cancer claims” and see how dumb she is. She wants to be top doc now too????
My opinion means nothing, will change nothing. However, as a supporter of MAID, DYING with DIGNITY, I find it terrible that Danielle Smith’s using her time to take away individuals ability to end their suffering. Are you suffering in poverty? Mental illness? Disabilities that provide no quality of life? Then you should NOT have a say.
MAID should be available for children for some ternminal diseases such as cancer. Why should they be made to suffer more than they already have.
There’s a lot of far-left commenters here that should apply for this service before the rules change.
Provinces can’t take away rights the Feds give you. It’ll have to perk thru through the courts though :(
Stockwell Day,
You’re so right!
Thomas Wayne,
My thoughts also.
nacho business
I Agree!
The killing of healthy babies in the womb should be stopped as well. Choose adoption instead of abortion.
Listen to all these people complaining about not having the “freedom” to have the government kill them! Unbelievable!
End it if you want to. Nobody is stopping you. But I don’t want to pay for it. Nor do I want our limited healthcare resources going towards ending you.
How about limiting it to “one time use only”?
Yes, let’s let the seriously ill and infirm suffer more than they already are at the end of life.
Gross ableist ideology from Smith yet again.
One day Albertan Libertarians will realize Danielle is not a Libertarian.
Finally a sane government putting the brakes on the culture of death.
Why is it always the people yelling “FREEDOM” at the top of their lungs that want to limit freedom?
I find it ironic how one will put an animal down humanly to end its suffering when sick and there is no chance of recovery, but one will let a human suffer inhumanely and think they are hero’s knowing they will never recover
The government has no right to decide this. If we grapple with our quality of life it is our choice add having a choice means we have dignity.
For anyone who grapples with their quality of life it should be their choice, not the government’s. Given that they have a choice is dignity.
Leave this to the Medical Profession,and govern yourself accordingly!!
Now Twat Smith is Alberta’s top doc. She’s great with cancer too.
Phuck off Phrank Hammond. Moron.
With Canada only being able to deliver government only health care instead of a mix of private and public health care like other countries with efficient health care systems. We need MAID because with the wait times for treatment being sometimes years away. Best to just terminate anyone with an illness in Canada.
Over 100,000 put to death so far. 99% white man. Why don’t other cultures approve of murder?
So, people with a progressive, incurable, hideously painful disease like Huntington’s Disease (which causes serious mood disorders, followed by uncoordinated and involuntary body movements (known as chorea), balance problems, psychotic breaks, dementia, and death) won’t be able to access MAID because it will take them roughly 15 to 20 years after the diagnosis is first made to die in agony. Woody Guthrie had it; by the end of his life, his body was constricted into a bow with only his feet and the top of his head touching the bed. How incredibly merciful!
“As with Ottawa’s rules, Alberta’s bill would prohibit requests made by patients in advance.
That includes people recently diagnosed with diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer’s who may want to provide their consent for MAID before they lose capacity to make the decision.”
I’m 100% in favor of MAID and the above should not be a restriction! Once you’re far into dementia you can’t approve MAID…
Just another reason not to live in Alberta. If you are at a young age and suffering with a life ending incurable disease like cancer, too bad, suck it up and suffer. You have no rights, the UCP will decide if you should be able to end your suffering.
What a horribly dogmatic government.
This u see pee govt is fighting for who comes to mind too often these days.
Care and treatment are often available? Who are you kidding? Try sitting in an emergency room for hours or wait for months or even years for tests and surgical procedures. Increase the staffing in hospitals. Those are the issues you should be dealing with. Smith is only doing this to defy the Feds. As usual.
People should be allowed to end their lives
That is their personal decision
It should never be government sanctioned though
INcredibly regressive and disappointing
Why?
How many decisions of maid are decisions made because of the costs involved in terminal loved ones????
Cuts healthcare funding then says “I think that we’re failing in our duty to give people hope,” in response to access to MAID. Danielle Smith is a mockery. Give us a healthcare system that works and you would naturally see a decline in MAID use.
More evidence that the evangelicals are running the UCP.
Excellant!
with this new bill, i believe the risk of suicides will increase
i believe with this new bill suicide rates will increase