C-39An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on February 2, 2023
- Status
- Became law on March 9, 2023 · S.C. 2023, c. 1
What it does
Delays until March 17, 2024, the repeal of the exclusion for medical assistance in dying when mental illness is the only underlying condition.
What it does
- Delays the repeal of the exclusion from eligibility for medical assistance in dying when the sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.
- Keeps that exclusion in place until March 17, 2024.
Who it affects
- People seeking medical assistance in dying
- People with a mental illness
- Health care providers
Topics
Background
It amends An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying).
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Skipped. Skipped
Third reading
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
Introduced by a cabinet minister on behalf of the government. Government bills get set time for debate, so they are the most likely to become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalDavid Lametti· February 13, 2023
“I rise today to speak to Bill C-39, an act to amend an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding medical assistance in dying. This bill would extend the exclusion of eligibility for receiving medical assistance in dying, or MAID, in circumstances where the sole underlying medical condition for MAID is a mental illness.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeMichael Cooper· February 13, 2023
“I rise to speak on Bill C-39, a legislation that imposes a new arbitrary deadline of March 2024 in place of the Liberal government's arbitrary deadline of March 2023 whereby persons with a sole underlying mental health disorder would be eligible for MAID.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocLuc Thériault· February 13, 2023
“As a Conservative, my colleague from St. Albert—Edmonton has never made so many references to science. I understand that he is passionate about this, but he is claiming that the report of the expert panel says things that it does not, particularly with regard to ending one's life prematurely in the case of mental illness.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPAlistair MacGregor· February 13, 2023
“For those who are watching the debate today, this is the bill to amend the Criminal Code to delay, until March 17 of next year, the repeal of the exclusion from eligibility for receiving medical assistance in dying in circumstances where the sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caGreenMike Morrice· February 13, 2023
“I am glad to hear that all parties are supportive of Bill C-39, but I am not surprised to hear that, because of the work of Althia Raj and the Toronto Star. Specifically, back in November, as other members have shared, Ms. Raj spoke with the Minister of Justice.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Royal assent received. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.