Open letter concerning the expansion of MAiD

Christ is Risen! Read the open letter sent to the Prime Minister's office on the Sunday of the Myrrh Bearers, entreating the government to limit the expansion of MAiD for those suffering from mental illness:

---

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to you today on behalf of my parish community, and indeed as a voice within the wider Orthodox Church in Canada, to express our grave concerns regarding the impending expansion of MAiD to include those suffering from mental health disorders. As it stands, we strongly support placing safeguards on MAiD by limiting eligibility for persons seeking MAiD on the basis of mental illness. Our position is neither religiously nor politically motivated. Rather, we see this as a profound ethical and societal issue that will affect all Canadians whether directly or indirectly.

For the past seven years, our parish's Noble Joseph House hospitality ministry has welcomed some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of Regent Park. We have served thousands of meals, offered medical services to hundreds, and spent countless hours sharing in both the joys and sorrows of many people who would fall under this expanded criterion for MAiD. It is from this firsthand experience, working directly alongside this population, that we believe the government must not only halt this expansion, but also commit itself to providing real and meaningful support for our brothers and sisters who suffer from mental illness.

A truly compassionate society is measured not by how efficiently it facilitates death, but by how faithfully it accompanies those who suffer. Persons struggling with mental health disorders are often living in states of impaired judgment, or despair, which complicates the possibility of meaningful consent. Social vulnerabilities such as loneliness, poverty, addiction, trauma, and the lack of supportive care can heavily influence such decisions. In cases of mental illness, the desire to die can itself be a symptom of the illness. Genuine autonomy requires more than the mere availability of a choice, it requires adequate supports, including accessible healthcare, housing, and social services.

We urge your government to reconsider this expansion and instead direct its efforts toward strengthening the systems of care that uphold the dignity and wellbeing of vulnerable Canadians.
With gratitude and appreciation,

​Fr. Paul Tadros

---