April 1, 2025

Dear Friends:

The current federal election is one of the most important in Canada’s history. Euthanasia for mental illness alone, euthanasia for children and euthanasia by advance request are at stake.

My message to you is that elections have consequences. Please vote for a candidate who will support repealing Bill C-7 (2021) and oppose expanding Canada’s euthanasia law to include “mature minors” and euthanasia by advance request.

There are several good news stories to report.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities published a report on March 21 outlining positive initiatives and concerns related to Canada’s adherence to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. With reference to euthanasia, the Committee recommended that Canada repeal Track 2 Medical Assistance in Dying (“MAiD”), including the planned 2027 expansion to persons whose “sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness,” and reject proposals to expand “MAiD” to “mature minors” and through advance requests. This is a very positive development since it creates political pressure for future Canadian governments to repeal euthanasia for people who are not terminally ill (Track 2) and to reject expanding Canada’s euthanasia law. The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) considers this an excellent first step to preventing euthanasia in Canada.

Montana was the third state to allow assisted suicide in America after the 2009 Baxter court decision created a “defence of consent” for assisted suicide. This year, Senator Carl Glimm introduced Senate Bill (SB) 136 to reverse assisted suicide in Montana. On February 7, SB 136 passed by a 29 to 20 vote in the Senate. On March 24, SB 136 passed by an 11 to 9 vote in the House Judiciary Committee. As of the writing of this letter, SB 136 has not yet been voted on by the full Montana House. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has stated that he will sign the bill, if passed.

The 2024 euthanasia reports from the Netherlands and Belgium were recently released. Both countries reported significant increases in euthanasia deaths. Both reports confirm that, once legal, euthanasia will continually increase. The Netherlands report indicated a 60% increase in euthanasia for psychiatric reasons alone. This is a warning to Canada, which is currently scheduled to allow euthanasia for psychiatric reasons alone in March 2027.

Thank you to the many supporters who sponsored my Chilly Half-Marathon (March 2). The run went well and the $10,000 in donations were necessary. Recently, I met with our lawyer regarding EPC’s standing in the Vancouver court case concerning the right of religious health care institutions not to kill their patients, and the Toronto court case concerning euthanasia for mental illness alone. We plan to intervene in both.

Your support is always appreciated and necessary. Please consider making a regular donation or donate towards the cost of the legal challenges that we are involved with. Thank you again for your continued support!

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director