Support Bill C-314 for MAiD

PRESS RELEASE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Wednesday September 27, 2023 – The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) is urging all Canadians to take action by supporting Honourable Ed Fast’s Bill C-314 and help ensure legislators do not overlap Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) with what is traditionally understood as suicide for those suffering solely from mental illness.   

As mental health advocates, CASP wants to ensure those suffering from mental illness are treated by medical means and not through assisted dying. CASP feels strongly that extreme caution needs to be taken with MAiD and a thought-out, failproof, measured system of safeguards needs to be in place so that those most vulnerable will be protected from a medically assisted pre-mature death that could be avoided by adequate treatment and care. 

Last March, the federal government delayed the mental illness provision of MAiD by one year to allow time to create safeguards, but they have not acted on this promise.  CASP supports and commends Bill C-314 and are asking all those who agree that Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) should not be applicable for persons suffering solely from mental illness to help us support Bill C-314 and make an impact by contacting your local MP and asking them to vote Yes on October 18, 2023, for Bill C-314.   

On our website (link below) we have put together a suggested template that can be used to email or leave a voicemail for your MP. We’ve also included Honourable Ed Fast’s Call for Support, and Bill C-314 for your review. 

It is our organization’s hope that, as a caring society, we can work together to ensure people living with mental illness are provided timely and equitable access to mental health care, treatment, and support before we hastily introduce options for them to prematurely die, through MAiD for mental illness.  

For more information, please contact us.