In 2016, Canada legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide and implemented a government-sanctioned program known as MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying). A decade later, the results are staggering.
Since its legalization, around 100,000 Canadians have died through MAID, and assisted suicide has become a leading cause of death in the country, accounting for over 5% of all deaths in 2024. Both the total number of deaths and their share of overall deaths have increased annually. One of the main reasons is the continued expansion of eligibility criteria. When the program started, only those whose death was “reasonably foreseeable” were eligible for MAID, but a law passed in 2021 expanded eligibility to include those whose death is not reasonably foreseeable, but who have a condition that is “grievous and irremediable.” In 2027, MAID is also expected to become available to those suffering from mental illness, and Canada’s Parliament has even recommended granting access to minors.
Deeply concerned about this issue, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a lengthy statement calling on the Catholic faithful and all people of good will to “remain steadfast in opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide, to pray for the conversion of hearts and minds away from this practice, and to be present to the persons who are sick and vulnerable.” The full statement is available here.
To know more about euthanasia and assisted suicide, click here to read our February 2026 issue of Messenger.