Inclusion Matters Special Edition: The story about assisted dying has changed.

August 2022

Inclusion Matters Special Edition: The story about assisted dying has changed

August 2022

New Infographic Visualizes the Scale of MAiD in Canada

More than 10,000 people died by MAiD in Canada in 2021. 219 of them were people with disabilities or disabling medical conditions who were not otherwise dying. Health Canada assures us that in 2021, approximately 9 out of 10 people who required disability supports received them before they were euthanized.

What isn’t Health Canada highlighting in its report? This infographic highlights some alarming facts about access to disability supports and MAiD.

View the infographic here. >

Episode 7 of Invisible Institutions: Life and Death in Canada's Institutions

Episode 7 of the Invisible Institutions podcast is called “Life and Death in Canada’s Institutions.” Host Megan Linton talks about how, in 2021, Canada legalized euthanasia for people with disabilities who are not dying. This episode features an interview with Inclusion Canada's Director of Community Justice & Health Equity, Natalia Hicks.

Invisible Institutions is a new documentary podcast exploring the past and present of institutions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Canada. The podcast is supported and advised by People First of Canada and Inclusion Canada’s Joint Task Force on Deinstitutionalization.

Listen here. >

Inclusion Canada writes letter to Federal Ministers about concerns with MAiD for Mental Illness

When Bill C-7 was passed in 2021, it included a stipulation. Unless the Government changed course, MAiD for mental illness would become legal in March 2023.

In a letter to the Ministers of Health, Justice, and Disability Inclusion, we share our top five concerns with the Expert Panel on MAiD and Mental Illness’ recommendations for how to “safely” euthanize people with a mental illness, including those with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability and mental illness.

Read the letter here. >

Inclusion Canada in Action

Inclusion Canada submitted feedback on “A Way with Words and Images”, a guide on inclusive and accessible language used internally by the federal government. The guide was developed almost two decades ago to promote a fair and accurate portrayal of persons with disabilities in government communications and is currently being updated to reflect more modern language, as well as broaden its use as a tool for all public servants in their daily work.

Inclusion Canada continues to work with the Accessible Canada Directorate as they publish guidance materials on Accessible Canada Regulations. This month, Inclusion Canada submitted feedback on “Guidance on the Accessible Canada Regulations: Simple, clear and concise language” and “Guidance on the Accessible Canada Regulations: Alternative Formats”. These materials provide recommendations to help federally regulated entities meet or exceed the requirements of the Accessible Canada Regulations.

The Fight Continues: The Potential Expansion of Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying Legislation (MAiD)

In this blog post, we detail our positions and concerns about the federal government's potential expansion of MAiD to mature minors, by advanced request, or based on mental illness.

Since Bill C-7 passed last year, it has been clear that people with disabilities are accessing MAiD because they are not being provided with the necessary supports and services to live full lives in community. Continued expansion of this legislation will only increase the number of people unnecessarily accessing euthanasia in Canada when they should have the supports to live.

Read the full blog post here. >

Federation Members & Allies present to Senate on MAiD

The Special Joint Committee on MAiD invited Inclusion Canada federation member The Quebec Intellectual Disability Socie ty (SQDI) and research body The Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Soc iety (IRIS) to present as part of their review of Canada’s MAiD legislation.

“The Supreme Court reasoned in Carter that what they acknowledged as a “slippery slope”—their term—in other countries would not happen in Canada. They said explicitly that euthanasia for minors or people with psychiatric disorders would not happen here because our “medico-legal culture”—their term—is so different from Belgium's, for example. Obviously, they were wrong.” - Michael Bach, Managing Director, IRIS

“We believe that MAiD should be a measure of last resort for people who are capable of giving free and informed consent and who, at the end of life, are living in unbearable suffering.” - Amelie Duranleau, Executive Director SQDI.

Inclusion Canada & Disability allies present at the United Nations on the dangers of Canada's MAiD Regime

On June 16th, Inclusion Canada and partners hosted a side event at the Conference of State Parties titled Canary in a Coal Mine, the Expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying/Euthanasia in Canada.

Inclusion Canada Executive Vice President, Krista Carr, was joined by disability partners and allies to present to our international partners about the dangers of Canada's expansion of MAiD legislature. The event was one of the most well attended in United Nation's Conference of State Parties history.

Watch the full video here. >

Inclusion Canada in the News

'Disturbing': Experts Troubled by Canada's Euthanasia Laws

Ben Woodfinden: Assisted suicide is spiralling out of control in Canada

FIRST READING: How Canada ignored warnings that euthanasia would immediately go too far

Third Annual Report on MAiD in Canada

Some disability advocates voice concern over the upcoming changes to Canada's euthanasia laws

Upcoming Dates & Events

September 5 - Labour Day (Inclusion Canada offices closed)

September 2022 - Anticipated Special Joint Committee on MAiD start date

November 28 - Inclusion Canada & People First of Canada Annual Federal Policy Forum in Ottawa. Registration to open late September.

March 2023 - Legalization of MAiD for Mental Illness

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