October 20, 2026

Dear Friends:

Your donations have truly made a difference, but we will need your support more than ever.

Bill C-218 was defeated on Wednesday October 7 by a vote of 187 to 141 primarily due to the government announcing, that day, that they will introduce legislation that will prevent euthanasia (“MAiD”) for mental illness, as a sole criteria, but also expand the law by permitting euthanasia by advance request. We have not seen the language of the bill yet.

The federal government does not have the jurisdiction to legalize euthanasia by advance request. Justice Minister Sean Fraser stated, “We believe this is the correct path forward to create space for provinces to determine whether they wish to extend access to medical assistance in dying in these circumstances.”

Euthanasia by advance request mainly affects people who have a stroke or heart attack. If a person becomes incompetent based on a sudden change in health then it would become the responsibility of the appointed “power of attorney” to decide when the person will be killed.

We oppose killing people but euthanasia by advance request is particularly egregious because an incompetent person is legally unable to change their mind and would be killed without consent.

No matter what happens, the issue of euthanasia for mental illness as the sole criteria will not end. As you are aware, Dying with Dignity and Claire Brosseau launched a court case demanding that the court agree to have Brosseau killed by euthanasia, based on mental illness as the sole criteria. The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) has intervened in this case. There was an “emergency” hearing in July. Justice Carissima Mathen decided not to grant Brosseau an injunction that would enable her to be killed, based on her mental illness. Now the court case will go to a full hearing, likely in March 2027, and from there the court decision will get appealed to the Ontario Court of Appeal and then to the Supreme Court of Canada. EPC has already expensed $50,000 in our intervention and the cost to participate in the full hearing right up to the Supreme Court of Canada will likely be more than $200,000.

EPC intervened in this case to ensure that the arguments are properly made opposing euthanasia for mental illness and to challenge the court from legislating from the bench. We urgently need your donations to continue this legal intervention and to maintain our general work.

Our president, Gordon Friesen, will soon publish the book titled, “Medical homicide, the poison and its antidote.” Thank you for your continued support.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director