The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced legislation that would establish new provincial safeguards for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), a change that will affect how the procedure is delivered to patients on the Saskatchewan side of the Border City.
The Medical Assistance in Dying Additional Safeguards Act was introduced Nov. 9, according to the province.
What the new safeguards would prohibit
The legislation would prohibit MAID in Saskatchewan for anyone under the age of 18, anyone whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness, and individuals who lack the capacity to make their own health care decisions, the province said.
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“Saskatchewan’s priority is protecting patients while maintaining a safe, responsible, and compassionate health care system,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in a statement.
“This legislation establishes additional safeguards, particularly around young people, mental illness, and capacity, and strengthens protections for health care professionals who choose not to participate in MAID.”
Protections for health care providers
The bill also responds to concerns raised by health care providers by strengthening protections for professionals who choose not to take part in MAID assessments or provisions, the province said.
Saskatchewan’s MAID program currently operates under a centralized model, with the Saskatchewan Health Authority overseeing assessments and provisions across the province.
Federal law sets the floor, provinces add safeguards
MAID is governed by the federal Criminal Code, but provinces are responsible for the delivery of health care and may add their own safeguards within provincial health systems, according to the province.
Saskatchewan’s move follows similar legislation introduced in Alberta earlier this year that would ban MAID for mental illness alone, meaning both provinces on either side of the Border City are now moving toward tighter rules on who qualifies.
What it means for families on the Saskatchewan side
For Lloydminster-area families navigating end-of-life decisions on the Saskatchewan side, the legislation would mean assessments involving minors, standalone mental illness or questions of decision-making capacity would no longer proceed under the provincial program if the bill passes as written.
The change comes amid broader public debate over the scope of MAID eligibility, including research on public attitudes toward advance MAID requests made before a person loses decision-making capacity.
The legislation is also being introduced alongside other recent Saskatchewan health and care-sector changes, including proposed tighter rules for personal care homes announced earlier this month.
The bill has been introduced in the legislature and will proceed through further readings before any changes take effect. Residents with questions about the legislation can contact Media Relations for Saskatchewan Health at 306-787-4083.
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