OTTAWA – The Green Party of Canada supports the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recommendation that Canada repeal the expansion of MAiD for Canadians whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable, and appreciates the report’s focus on the underlying systemic hardships that can force disabled people to seek assisted death. 

“Greens have heard loud and clear from the disability community that people are being offered MAID at times when it is both unnecessary and inappropriate to do so,” said Green Party of Canada Co-Leader Elizabeth May. “Our focus should be on closing the social safety net before expanding MAID. People should not have an easier time accessing services to die than services to ensure they can live with independence and dignity.”

Above all, Greens are committed to working for justice and compassion. Greens were the first to raise this issue in Parliament, to the Prime Minister directly, calling to ensure Canadians have access to all relevant forms of treatment before feeling they must resort to MAID.

Disability Justice figures as one of the Green Party of Canada’s 12 platform priorities. Greens are committed to ensuring financial security for people with disabilities, and to breaking down barriers to participation in all parts of life.

The Green Party has a record of amplifying advocacy by the disability community – with meaningful results. With people with disabilities making up 41% of those living in poverty in Canada, Green MPs built support across party lines to deliver the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) and continue fighting to strengthen its proposed regulations. Here are some key results:

The Green Party of Canada commends the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for its important work. 

#####

For more information or to arrange an interview : 

Fabrice Lachance Nové

Press secretary

514-463-0021

media@greenparty.ca

Rod Legget

Senior Advisor, Strategic Communications

613-203-1524

media@greenparty.ca