Alberta's government introduced legislation Tuesday that would sharply restrict access to medical assistance in dying blocking it entirely for minors and for people whose only diagnosed condition is a mental illness.
Bill 18, the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act, would roll back what the province calls an unchecked expansion of MAID eligibility, and force the practice back to what it describes as a true last resort.
What the Bill Would Actually Do
If passed, the legislation would:
Ban MAID for anyone under 18
Ban MAID where mental illness is the sole underlying condition
Eliminate Track 2 MAID the pathway that allows eligibility even when a natural death is not reasonably foreseeable
Limit Track 1 MAID to those whose natural death is expected within 12 months
Bar doctors from initiating conversations about MAID with patients
Prohibit physicians from referring patients outside Alberta to receive MAID
Allow health care facilities and physicians to refuse to assess or provide MAID
Require mandatory education and training for all MAID providers, with sanctions for non-compliance
One detail that will matter to a lot of families: people living with degenerative conditions like Parkinson's, dementia, or Alzheimer's would not be eligible under this legislation. Officials confirmed that an individual must have the mental capacity to consent which rules out those who have lost that capacity as their condition progresses.
Facilities that opt out of providing MAID would also have a 150-metre exclusion zone established around them, intended to protect staff and patients who don't wish to be exposed to MAID services.
The Numbers Behind the Push
The province points to statistics it says reflect a system moving too fast. Since Track 2 MAID was introduced in Canada in 2021, Track 2 deaths in Alberta have climbed 136 per cent. Nationally, Canada crossed three per cent of total deaths attributed to MAID in just five years a milestone that took Belgium and the Netherlands more than two decades to reach.
Premier Danielle Smith framed the legislation around protecting people at their most vulnerable. "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," she said in a statement.
Justice Minister Mickey Amery added that the bill is intended to ensure MAID "only remains as an option of last resort."
Not Everyone Agrees Including Many Albertans
It's worth noting that the government's own public survey, conducted late last year, found 47 per cent of respondents disagreed with imposing more MAID safeguards, compared to 38 per cent who agreed. The province pushed ahead regardless, with Amery acknowledging that "Albertans will have different opinions on this."
The legislation has also drawn pushback from critics who argue it overreaches provincial jurisdiction and could face a court challenge under federal law. The federal Criminal Code governs the criminal law standards for MAID, while provinces manage how it's delivered through health systems a distinction that will likely be tested if the bill becomes law.
Smith told reporters she anticipates constitutional challenges but is confident the legislation will stand. She did not rule out using the notwithstanding clause to defend it.
The Alberta NDP said the party recognizes the need for proper oversight around MAID but needs time to fully review the legislation before taking a firm position.
What Happens Next
Bill 18 is before the legislature and has not yet passed. Albertans with questions about MAID eligibility or the proposed changes can review the legislation directly through the Government of Alberta's website.
Sources:
Government of Alberta — MAID Protections for Albertans with Mental Illness (March 18, 2026): https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=958511A2CE817-A924-E2A6-0D101236984ADB16
Bill 18 — Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act: https://abca-admin-prod.apps.aro-01.int.gov.ab.ca/protecting-vulnerable-albertans-seeking-maid
