The federal justice minister says that Canada will permanently exclude those whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness, from accessing Medical Assistance in Dying.

Sean Fraser made the announcement yesterday before entering Question Period in the House of Commons.

Fraser says he understands, and shares the reticence many have about MAID for the sole reason of a mental illness when access to mental health care is lacking in so many areas.

“In a community that doesn’t have a mental health unit in a hospital, where there’s no access to a psychiatrist, where community mental health services are not there, and to create an opportunity for Medical Assistance in Dying for a person who doesn’t have access to medicine, is something that I understand.”