Alberta Bill 18 was debated in the Alberta legislature on March 31, 2026. The debate begin on page 1332 of Hansard.

Hon. Mickey Amery

This is the speech by Alberta’s Minister of Justice, Hon Mickey Amery in support of Bill 18.

Bill 18 will provide limits to euthanasia (Read).

Second Reading Bill 18 Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act

The Speaker: The Hon. Minister of Justice.Mr. Amery: Well, thank you very much, 

Mr. Speaker. As always,I am pleased to rise and speak in this Chamber, in particular todayto Bill 18, the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act. 

If passed, this critically important bill would assure that medicalassistance in dying remains an exception, an end-of-lifeintervention, and should not become routine or replace theprovision of proper medical care, disability, or social care here inAlberta. Bill 18 would help ensure the protection of vulnerableAlbertans and that medical assistance in dying, or MAID, as it’scommonly referred to, is only provided as a means of last resort asit was first intended to be when limited MAID criminal defences were added in 2016 to the federal Criminal Code. Our governmentbelieves that when the outcome is death, the system must meet thehighest standards of care, transparency, oversight, and, of course,accountability. 

Mr. Speaker, we also believe that the compassionate approach isone that helps people live with dignity, not defaulting to doctor assisted death. It was with that in mind that we undertook thedevelopment of this legislation. It’s become abundantly clear andevident that we need to bring in safeguards to ensure protection,care, and dignity for all, especially our most vulnerable. 

Now, Canada has the fastest growing death rates in the worldwhen it comes to MAID. Far from being an option of last resort,MAID is now the fifth leading cause of death in Canada. Thecountry is currently projected to reach its 100,000th death by MAIDin June, (actually mid-April) becoming the first nation in the modern era to measure itstotal assisted deaths in the six figures, more than the totals of anyother jurisdiction with some form of legal, doctor-assisted death.Far from being the exception, an option of last resort, it has insteadbecome routine, rising 13-fold since legalization. 

When legalized, MAID was always intended to be an option of lastresort, yet it has become a substitute for care for those who are sufferingfrom loneliness, poverty, mental illness, or social isolation. HealthCanada reports that nearly half of track 2 MAID deaths involvedsuffering from loneliness or isolation, while almost half indicated thatthey felt that they were a burden. Ontario’s MAID Death ReviewCommittee found that most track 2 recipients were low income. Manydid not name a family member as next of kin, suggesting that they wereexperiencing some form of social isolation. 

Mr. Speaker, that information is sobering and it is saddening. Itdrives home just how important it is that we provide the necessarysafeguards before things completely spiral out of control. Ourgovernment believes that those experiencing loneliness, isolation,or poverty should be met with compassion and care, not withdoctor-assisted death.

Now, similarly, in March of 2025 the United Nations Committeeon the Rights of Persons with Disabilities released findings onCanada’s compliance with the convention on the rights of personswith disabilities. The committee sounded the alarm on track 2 MAIDin Canada, suggesting that it devalues people with disabilities and actsas a dangerous alternative to providing social and economic supports.They have called on Canada to repeal MAID where death is notreasonably foreseeable. 

If passed, Bill 18 affirms this recommendation, limiting MAIDin Alberta to those whose natural death has been determined to bereasonably foreseeable. Now, when this bill was tabled, InclusionAlberta affirmed this direction, stating that “track 2 MAIDdiscriminates against persons with disabilities and [it] reinforcesdangerous stereotypes about the [value or] worth of their lives.” Bill18 will serve as a correction. It would protect Albertans withdisabilities from discrimination by ensuring Alberta’s health systemdoes not provide assisted suicide to people whose death is notreasonably foreseeable. 

Mr. Speaker, our government believes that MAID should not bea substitute for robust health care options, mental health supports,or palliative care. To this end, one of our government’s centralconcerns raised through the review is the federal government’splanned expansion of MAID eligibility to include individuals whoonly have an underlying health condition of mental illness. Now,there’s a serious risk that vulnerable Albertans living with mentalillness may choose this most final of actions when other treatmentoptions are available. A majority of Canadians do not support thisMAID expansion, with September 2023 polling finding that only28 per cent of Canadians believe that this expansion is appropriate and 82 per cent of Canadians believing that mental health careshould be improved instead. 

If Bill 18 is passed, MAID would be prohibited for people whosesole condition is seeking MAID for an underlying mental healthillness. Now, as the CEO for the centre of suicide preventionAlberta has stated at the tabling of Bill 18: recovery from mentalillness is possible, expected even; for that reason, we welcome thesteps Alberta is taking through the legislation to strengthenprotections for those experiencing mental illness. 

Mr. Speaker, thecompassionate response to those suffering from mental illness iswhat this government has been doing since the very beginning. It issupport and care. It is not death.

To further protect vulnerable Albertans, Alberta’s legislationwould prohibit MAID for minors and those without capacity tomake their own health care decisions. It would also make sure thatthe consultation is robust, that consultation provided ensures thatthose that are seeking MAID are not coerced or pressured and thatthose individuals who are looking to get MAID are the ones thattake a proactive approach to seek that information. Mr. Speaker,coercion and pressure is not a real choice. Albertans should neverbe pressured to end their own lives. Now, Bill 18 strengthensprotections of vulnerable individuals from coercion by ensuringthat regulated health care professionals cannot initiate MAIDdiscussions in the course of providing everyday health services.Instead, the patient must inquire about MAID services first. Thisgovernment believes and it always has believed that when it comesto MAID, care should always be the first option. 

The proposed legislation would address gaps in the current federalsystem within Alberta. It would ensure that vulnerable Albertans,including those suffering from mental illness, are protected by settingstrong and consistent standards. I urge all members in this House to takethe approach of compassion and be mindful about the sensitivities andthe complexities of this consequential and very important bill. I wouldhope that the members opposite and members on this side of theAssembly support this very important bill. Mr. Speaker, hope mustalways be more accessible than death. 

With that, Mr. Speaker, I move second reading of Bill 18. Thankyou.