Quebec breathes a sigh of relief after Ottawa’s decision to postpone the expansion of medical assistance in dying for people affected by serious mental disorders. “I think they weren’t there yet,” said Minister Sonia Bélanger on Tuesday.
The elected official responsible for end-of-life care in Quebec was reacting to the decision taken on Monday by Ottawa to once again postpone the entry into force of certain provisions of its law on medical assistance in dying. People affected by mental illnesses, who were originally supposed to have access to this care in March, will have to wait at least until after the next federal election to know the federal government’s final decision.
“When we haven’t reached a place, well, it’s better to delay. This is what they did,” said M.me Bélanger, Tuesday, on the sidelines of a press conference on care assistance in private seniors’ residences. Questioned by a journalist who asked her if Ottawa had moved too quickly on this issue, she replied: “you are practically taking the words out of my mouth”.
By expanding its own law last year, Quebec chose to exclude people affected by mental disorders — schizophrenia or serious depression, for example. Ottawa, for its part, gave itself one year to decide.
However, on Monday, a transpartisan report tabled in the House of Commons signaled to Justin Trudeau’s government that it would be “reckless and dangerous” to extend MAID to this category of patients as of March.
Federal Health Minister Mark Holland confirmed this new postponement shortly after.
Further details will follow.
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