S-231An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)
Senate public bill, introduced in the Senate on June 12, 2025
- Status
- At second reading in the Senate since June 12, 2025
- Sponsor
- Pamela WallinSenator
- Senator
What it does
Changes Criminal Code rules for medical assistance in dying, adding ways to waive final consent in some cases if capacity is later lost.
What it does
- Lets a person whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable make a written arrangement for MAID on a specified day, if they are told they may lose capacity before then and consent to MAID if that happens.
- Lets a person with a serious and incurable illness, disease or disability make a written declaration waiving final consent if they later lose capacity, have the symptoms named in the declaration, and meet the other Criminal Code safeguards.
- Requires the declaration to be made after diagnosis, within five years of being made, witnessed by two independent witnesses, and certified by a medical practitioner.
- Stops MAID under these waiver rules if the person shows, by words, sounds or gestures, that they refuse the substance or resist its administration.
Who it affects
- People seeking MAID
- People without foreseeable natural death
- People with serious incurable illness
- Medical practitioners
- Nurse practitioners
Topics
Background
The bill amends Criminal Code rules on medical assistance in dying, including safeguards and final consent.
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
House of Commons
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by a senator. If the Senate passes it, it goes to the House of Commons, where an MP must agree to sponsor it. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At second reading in the Senate. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.