Help not Harm

In every family and community, there are quiet struggles we may not always see. Mental illness touches many lives, often closer than we realize. In any given year, one in five Canadians will experience it: a friend, a colleague, a loved one.
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We invite the Catholic community to respectfully contact their local Member of Parliament (MP) to request their support for Bill C-218, the Right to Recover Act, currently before the Parliament of Canada.

Bill C-218 proposes an amendment to the Criminal Code to make it illegal to provide Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. It recognizes the importance of recovery and ensures that help can be offered, not harm. 

Why this matters

• Every life is precious. As Catholics, we believe in the sanctity of every human life, from the moment of conception to natural death.
• A desire to die can be a symptom of illness. Suicidal thoughts are frequently part of mental illness itself, raising serious concerns about whether consent can ever be truly free and informed.
• Mental illness is often treatable. Many conditions improve over time with proper care, therapy, medication, and support. Recovery remains possible, even after long periods of suffering.
• Gaps in mental health care remain unresolved. Long wait times, limited access to psychiatrists, and uneven services mean some may seek to end their lives due to system failure, not medical necessity.
• There is an increased risk to vulnerable Canadians. Individuals navigating mental health challenges are more likely to experience poverty, trauma, isolation, disability, or lack of access to care — factors that may pressure individuals toward assisted suicide.

Background on Bill C-218
Bill C-218 is a Private Members’ Bill introduced in Parliament by an individual Member of Parliament. It has been introduced by Tamara Jansen, MP for Cloverdale–Langley City, British Columbia.

To pass, the legislation will require support from more than one political party. Many Members of Parliament have expressed concern about the rapid expansion of MAiD in Canada, particularly for those whose primary underlying condition is mental illness. MPs are being asked to vote according to their conscience, regardless of party affiliation.
The difference in passing this bill could be just a few votes in the House of Commons. If the legislation does not pass, new laws are set to take effect on March 17, 2027, allowing MAiD for those whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

Take action
You are invited to visit HelpNotHarmCanada.ca, where you can send an email directly to your local Member of Parliament in under 3 minutes.

As Catholics and Canadians, we are called to offer care, hope, and protection to those who are suffering.

TAKE ACTION AND CONTACT YOUR MP

​Source: HelpNotHarmCanada.ca (Archdiocese of Toronto)