When I talk to friends and family about what I’m working on, I end up talking about some of my ongoing MAID reporting. They’re often surprised to hear that Canada was deliberating on whether or not to expand medical euthanasia for people with mental illness — some weren’t even aware that any kind of MAID was legal at all.
It made me wonder how much the average person knows about MAID legislation. MAID doesn’t get nearly as much discussion as other issues like housing, immigration, and cost of living. What little reporting remains tends to oversimplify matters or cover political quotes without meaningfully engaging with criticisms from disabled and chronically ill people living in poverty.
And while it might appear in news coverage occasionally, Facebook has throttled the reach of Canadian newsrooms. How does this affect our knowledge and perception of these policies?
Are we falling along party lines?
Exposure to these policies might be incidental and minimal, especially for people who don’t know anyone who has personal experiences with MAID. A potential consequence is that people’s views on MAID may be shaped by their political party affiliation, using it as a quick heuristic to make their minds up on the issue.
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre announced last week that if he is elected Prime Minister, he will cancel MAID expansion for mental illness. He said that Trudeau is “once again in the pursuit of a radical agenda that is totally out of step with the values of Canadians.”
Some people on the left might discard these views upon first reading. It isn’t a perfect statement. It doesn’t mention that many disabled Canadians living in poverty are feeling coerced by the system or that very basic demographic information isn’t being collected about MAID applicants.
It doesn’t help that the message comes from a political party that tends to trash every policy decision made by the Liberals. Or that Poilievre references conspiracy theories about a Jewish globalist cabal with his rhetoric about the World Economic Forum (WEF). If all that someone knows about MAID expansion is that the Conservative Party opposes it, they might assume that MAID expansion is a good policy.
Keeping the conversation going
Communities of disabled advocates are fueling conversation on Twitter. But the problem is that Twitter isn’t real life — many Canadians who don’t use these online spaces aren’t privy to the conversation.
It’s an awkward conversation to have in real life.
But if you have the time and energy and want to facilitate change, it has to happen on the ground. That means talking with your family, friends, and neighbours about these issues. That means reaching out to your local legislative representatives with your concerns and organizing.
People shouldn’t be dying of MAID simply because their health has deteriorated as a result of poverty or because they aren’t able to access the treatment and support they need to live.
Hot Off the Press
February 8th:
February 9th:
Globe and Mail | It’s too late for the Supreme Court. Ottawa needs to step up and fix MAID
February 11th:
CBC | My dad's assisted death was a parting gift. I wish I'd said so in his obituary
February 13th:
CBC | Should dementia patients be able to make advance requests for medical assistance in dying?
February 14th:
In case you missed it. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/77GSKFvX718k1p2U/?mibextid=xfxF2i
Let me know if you can't see the post.