Alberta to Introduce New Legislation on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
Alberta's Justice Minister Mickey Amery has been instructed by Premier Danielle Smith to introduce new legislation regarding Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). This legislation aims to provide the government with greater control and oversight of the program and introduce new safeguards.
Proposed Safeguards and Oversight
The mandate letter from Premier Smith to Minister Amery calls for "appropriate safeguards" and the prohibition of mental illness as the sole eligibility factor for MAID. The specifics of these safeguards and the extent of government oversight remain undefined. While mental illness has never been an approved sole eligibility factor, the federal government considered, and later delayed, allowing it, pushing earliest implementation to 2027.
Alberta's MAID Data and Public Consultation
According to data from Alberta's provincial health authority, 1,117 Albertans chose medically assisted death last year. Since the program's implementation in 2016, over 5,000 Albertans have chosen MAID. The government's push for new legislation follows a survey of nearly 20,000 Albertans, with almost half disagreeing with additional guardrails on MAID decisions.
Potential Changes and Opposition Response
The Alberta government is considering creating a new public agency for oversight and a dispute mechanism for family members seeking to intervene in MAID decisions. Opposition NDP health critic Sarah Hoffman stated she would review the legislation upon its tabling, emphasizing the need to address pressing healthcare issues like wait times and emergency room overcrowding.
Other Legislative Directives for Justice Minister Amery
In addition to MAID legislation, Minister Amery is tasked with introducing legislation to protect the free speech rights of provincially regulated professionals, such as lawyers and physicians. This initiative, announced last year, aims to ensure professionals aren't policed for opinions unrelated to their field. The government referenced the case of Jordan Peterson as an example, sparking criticism that the government sought to allow the spread of misinformation without professional consequences.
Additional Ministerial Mandates
Other ministers, including Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis and Family Services Minister Searle Turton, also received new mandate letters. Minister Ellis is tasked with collaborating with Minister Amery on a policing priority framework and supporting municipalities looking to establish their own police forces. Alberta also plans to open new international offices in Abu Dhabi and Mumbai and introduce legislation to protect its authority in international agreements.