Paul Tuns:
On March 18, Alberta Minister of Justice Mickey Amery introduced Bill 18, the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act, which, if passed, will restrict euthanasia in the province.
Bill 18 would require individuals to have a 12-month terminal prognosis, thus limiting euthanasia in the province to Track 1 approval (those with a reasonably foreseeable death). By banning Track 2 euthanasia, which allows Medical Assistance in Dying for those who do not have a terminal diagnosis, Bill 18 would also prevent expanding euthanasia to those who suffer solely from a mental illness.
Amanda Achtman, founder of Dying to Meet You, a project to “prevent euthanasia and encourage hope,” tweeted, “The Government of Alberta is showing leadership by banning euthanasia for Albertans whose deaths are not ‘reasonably foreseeable.’ This means that Alberta will be the first province to scrap Track 2 MAID!”
Bill 18 will also prevent the expansion of euthanasia to so-called mature minors (those under 18 years of age), prevent euthanasia for those who cannot consent, ban euthanasia by advanced consent, prevent out-of-province MAiD referrals, and require that a MAiD assessor to contact other health care professionals who have cared for the patient requesting euthanasia or assisted-suicide.
Bill 18 will also ban health care practitioners from raising the issue of euthanasia before a patient makes a MAiD request, require MAiD practitioner to receive specific training, require regulatory colleges to sanction practitioners who violate the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act, provide conscience protection for health care professionals who refuse to participate or provide assessments for euthanasia (although it would require doctors who refuse to participate in euthanasia to provide information to patients wanting to access MAiD), and enable institutions to refuse to participate in MAiD and provide an exclusion zone for euthanasia around institutions that refuse to take part in MAiD.
President of Campaign Life Coalition Jeff Gunnarson tweeted, “Praise God, this is boldly moving in the right direction.”
Prior to tabling the legislation, the Alberta government announced its legislative agenda in February, noting, it planned “to introduce legislation that, if passed, would regulate any Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) performed in Alberta, ensuring there is consistent oversight that protects vulnerable Albertans.” The press release stated, “The federal government has rapidly expanded MAiD and is currently considering expanding eligibility to those suffering from mental illness as their sole-underlying condition,” and “Legislation introduced this sitting would create safeguards and ensure vulnerable Albertans are protected.”
Although the federal government dictates what is in the Criminal Code, provinces are responsible for regulating procedures such as for abortion and euthanasia.
Announcing the bill, Premier Danielle Smith said Bill 18 “strengthens safeguards and restores clear limits on eligibility to protect vulnerable Albertans facing mental illness or living with disabilities.” She added, “Those struggling with severe mental health challenges need treatment, compassion and support, not a path to end their life at what may be their lowest moment. In Alberta, a patient whose sole underlying condition is mental illness will not be eligible for MAiD.”
Amery said the government has a “responsibility to protect vulnerable Albertans.” He added, “This legislation will ensure that proper protections and oversight are in place and MAiD only remains as an option of last resort.”
In 2025, there were 1242 reported cases of euthanasia in the province according to data from Alberta Health Services, an increase from 1117 in 2024.
Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, said, “Bill 18 doesn’t prohibit euthanasia but it provides reasonable controls over euthanasia, while preventing euthanasia for people who are not terminally ill or living with mental illness as their sole underlying condition, and it prevents further expansions of euthanasia in Alberta.”
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition supports Bill 18 and urged “other Canadian provinces to follow Alberta’s lead.”
Graydon Nicholas, an indigenous elder and former Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, praised Bill 18. “I am in support of this historical and significant legislative response by the Government of Alberta,” he said. “It is in recognition of the sanctity of life in the First Nations of Canada.” Nicholas added, “It is important to support life from the beginning to end of life in a dignified manner.”
Dr. Ramona Coelho, family physician and member of Ontario’s MAiD Death Review Committee who is a critic of euthanasia and was a presenter at Smith and Amery’s press conference, said, “Alberta’s legislation restores an essential principle: assisted dying must remain an exceptional end-of-life measure, not a substitute for proper medical care, disability supports, or social services.” Coelho said, “When the outcome is death, safeguards must be clear, enforceable and rigorously upheld,” and “This bill helps ensure that care comes first.”
