Ministry of Care and Companionship

On Medical Assistance in Dying and Hope in Christ: A toolkit to share our message

In June 2026, euthanasia, commonly known as MAiD, became legal in Canada. This changed the medical and healthcare landscape for all Canadians. For Canadian Catholics specifically, this raises moral questions that lead to difficult conversations or to their avoidance.

To bring greater awareness, understanding, and faithful action regarding MAiD, the Archdiocese created a toolkit titled "On Medical Assistance in Dying and Hope in Christ: A toolkit to share our message". The toolkit equips people to:

Understand the current context of MAiD in Canada and Nova Scotia
Talk about MAiD with family, friends, and parishioners
Understand our Catholic teaching and stance against MAiD
Access further resources

The toolkit is aimed at clergy, hospital chaplains, and those in pastoral care; however, it is available to all. The toolkit is meant to be used as a DIGITAL RESOURCE on your computer, tablet, or phone, and can be accessed by clicking the toolkit image to the left.

Many of the links within the toolkit connect to the resource directly, apart from the links below:

Dying with Christ, Living with Hope

Is MAiD targeting people with disabilities?

Since the expansion of MAiD in 2021, people with disabilities and chronic conditions are now eligible. This has caused great concern from members of the disability community because they feel that by amending the law, Canadian society is saying that some lives are not worth living. Last week, two prominent disability groups brought a lawsuit against the government asking the court to reverse a law which allowed MAiD for people with a disability.

The heart of their argument is that many people with disabilities don’t have access to the care, supports, and services they need to live, leading them to see death as the only viable option. For example, in 2022, an Ontario woman who had multiple chemical sensitivities died from MAiD. She only applied because she couldn’t afford an apartment that would protect her from environmental illness. Before she died, she made a video explaining her heartbreaking circumstances that was eventually provided to the media.

For more information on the topic of MAiD CLICK HERE