C-218An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on June 20, 2025
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the House of Commons
What it does
Amends the Criminal Code so a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition for medical assistance in dying.
What it does
- Replaces the Criminal Code rule on medical assistance in dying to state that a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition.
- Keeps that exclusion tied to the existing MAID test in subsection 241.2(2).
- Adds coordinating changes so the new rule and the 2021 MAID amendment act line up, no matter which comes into force first.
Who it affects
- People seeking medical assistance in dying
- People with mental disorders
- Doctors and nurse practitioners
- Health care assessors
Topics
Background
The bill amends the Criminal Code. It also includes coordinating changes with the 2021 Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying).
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
2nd reading of Bill C-218, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)
Vote 177,
Failed
141 yeato187 nay · 6 paired
Party breakdown for vote 177 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay2 broke ranks 2 166 5 Conservative Yea 133 0 4 Bloc Nay 0 21 0 NDP Yea 5 0 0 Green Yea 1 0 0 Total 141 187
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalJuanita Nathan· December 5, 2025
“I appreciate the opportunity to rise today to speak to Bill C-218, which proposes further amendments to Canada's federal legal framework for medical assistance in dying. Specifically, this bill aims to indefinitely exclude those patients whose only health condition is a mental disorder from being eligible for MAID.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeTamara Jansen· December 5, 2025
“This is why I brought forward Bill C-218, the right to recover act.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocClaude DeBellefeuille· December 5, 2025
“You will not be surprised to learn that the Bloc Québécois will not be supporting Bill C-218. Although we do not support this bill, it is not because we are unconcerned with the issue of medical assistance in dying for people with mental disorders.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Bill defeated. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.