Committee set to recommend against allowing MAID for mental illness in report today: Source

Justice Minister Sean Fraser speaks about medical assistance in dying being extended to people with a sole underlying condition of mental illness.

The Liberal government is not saying if it will act on a parliamentary committee report that’s expected to recommend against making people with mental illness eligible for medical assistance in dying.

MPs and senators tasked with determining whether Canada is ready to expand eligibility for assisted dying to those whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness are set to report to Parliament.

Many of the witnesses who testified urged the committee to permanently exclude people with psychiatric conditions from accessing MAID.

A source with knowledge of the report told The Canadian Press the committee was divided but the majority is set to recommend a permanent exclusion.

Committee co-chair Marcus Powlowski, a Liberal MP, says he can’t comment on the recommendations before they’re made public later today.

Justice Minister Sean Fraser says he plans to review the committee’s recommendations -- and the testimony that informed them -- before deciding what the government should do.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2026.

Sarah Ritchie