Nearly 90,000 Canadians have died through the country’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program since its legalization, according to official data.
In 2024 alone, approximately 16,500 euthanasia deaths were reported, accounting for 5 percent of all deaths nationwide.
Advocates warn that the program’s rapid expansion now includes cases involving “frailty” and other non-terminal conditions, raising concerns about how Canada defines end-of-life care and safeguards vulnerable populations. In British Columbia, 3,000 people died under MAID in 2024, with more than 30% of those cases occurring on Vancouver Island.
Critics argue that Canada’s approach risks normalizing euthanasia and eroding the availability of true palliative care. As eligibility continues to widen, the country faces growing questions about the ethics, oversight, and long-term consequences of its assisted-dying regime.
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