N.W.T. senator says territory not in position to offer MAID, as feds pause expansion

Warning: This story includes discussion of suicide.

As the federal government looks to delay the expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAID) to people suffering solely from mental illness, the Northwest Territories' senator is voicing her reservations about whether the N.W.T. is in a position to offer MAID at all. 

"There's some great challenges that we face in terms of health, in terms of accessing mental health care," said Margaret Dawn Anderson. 

"Until we are in a place where health care is at 100 per cent, and there is some continuity and consistency in that health care services … I struggle to see how MAID can be applied in the Northwest Territories." 

MAID eligibility was set to extend on March 17 to people whose sole underlying condition is a mental disorder. Last month however, the federal government announced plans to introduce legislation that would delay that expansion. 

Justice Minister David Lametti said some provinces, territories and health-care professionals need more time to adopt practice standards for dealing with more complex MAID requests, and that the federal government will need more time to go over the final report of Parliament's Special Joint Committee on MAID, which is expected on February 17.

"We do have to respect decisions of the courts. They have said that medical assistance in dying is a right that Canadians have, and so … the process will continue to move forward, but we're going to do it in a measured and prudent way," Lametti told reporters on Dec. 15. 

Canceling the expansion would require different legislation, he said, and "I think that would run us afoul of the courts."

The federal Justice Department wouldn't say how long the expansion might be delayed. 

It's unclear whether the N.W.T. is among the jurisdictions that need more time to update MAID practice standards.

CBC News requested an interview with an N.W.T. physician and with the territorial minister of Health and Social Services, but neither were granted by the end of the day on Wednesday.

In an emailed statement, N.W.T. health department spokesperson Umesh Sutendra said the government has safeguards to protect residents seeking medically-assisted death and the medical practitioners who provide it.

"The [N.W.T. government] has no role in the federal government's advancement of MAID," said Sutendra. 

The health department said at least 12 people have received MAID in the Northwest Territories since 2016. It wouldn't say where in the territory they're from, citing the risk of identifying them.