July 27, 2026

Dear Friends:

Usually summer is a slower time for the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC), but recently we were granted intervention standing in the Brosseau “emergency” court case that is attempting to get the court to “legislate from the bench” by permitting euthanasia for mental illness alone. The case is supported by Dying With Dignity and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. On July 21/22, a federal court in Toronto heard arguments concerning Claire Brosseau, an actress who lives in Toronto. Brosseau is asking for the court to give her an exemption from the law, allowing her to be killed by euthanasia based on mental illness alone. EPC needs your generous support to enable us to cover the cost of our intervention in this case. Please donate online at www.epcc.ca/donate and help us today.

EPC’s oral argument focussed on a few key points including the fact that Canada’s leading psychiatrists believe that it is impossible to determine if a mental health condition is irremediable. Canada’s euthanasia law requires that a person must have an irremediable medical condition to be approved for euthanasia. We also explained that mental health conditions often change over time. Based on the timing of the “emergency” case, we suggested that it is politically motivated. The case was filed in court when it appeared that the parliamentary euthanasia committee (AMAD) would likely decide that the Canadian government should reject euthanasia for mental illness alone. In other words, the euthanasia lobby launched the Brosseau case to undermine the decision of the federal government’s committee that decided on June 17 that Canada should not permit euthanasia based on mental illness alone.

Some bad news. Justice Carissima Mathen, who is hearing the Brosseau case, used to be head of litigation for the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). Her background is in constitutional litigation particularly with respect to women’s rights. As stated by our legal counsel, Hugh Scher, Justice Mathen immediately tried to take control of the hearing, when in fact her role was to review the motion. The reality is that whatever the lower court decides, this case will be appealed to the Court of Appeal for Ontario and eventually to the Supreme Court of Canada. EPC needs to raise $200,000 to enable us to cover the cost of our current intervention and to cover the cost of intervening at the Court of Appeal and up to the Supreme Court. Please donate via www.epcc.ca/donate and help us today.

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Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director