Canadian Evangelicals Respond to Proposed Medical Assistance in Dying Legislation

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) has issued a response to Bill C-41, the Medical Assistance in Dying Safeguards Act, which was introduced in Parliament on October 27. The organization expressed support for the bill’s provision to prohibit medical assistance in dying (MAID) based solely on a mental illness diagnosis, calling it the correct conclusion.

However, the EFC voiced strong opposition to the bill’s inclusion of advance requests for MAID. Under the proposed legislation, provinces and territories would have the authority to permit advance requests for individuals diagnosed with capacity-limiting conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, provided they enact their own regulatory frameworks. The EFC argues that allowing advance requests sets a dangerous precedent, as it permits euthanasia for individuals who may no longer be able to provide informed consent. The group stated that this approach devalues human life and indicated they will continue to monitor the progress of the legislation closely.