Position Statement on Alberta Legislation Affecting MAiD and Gender-Affirming Care

Humanist Canada affirms the inherent dignity, autonomy, and worth of every individual. Guided by these core humanist values, we oppose recent and proposed legislation in Alberta that restricts access to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) and gender-affirming care. These measures undermine patient autonomy, erode evidence-based medical practice, and risk causing significant and preventable suffering to vulnerable populations.

At the core of both MAiD and gender-affirming care is a fundamental ethical principle: respect for persons. Competent individuals have the right to make deeply personal decisions about their own bodies, identities, and the course of their lives, in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals. Legislative interference that substitutes political judgment for clinical expertise compromises this principle and sets a troubling precedent for the broader healthcare system.

In the case of MAiD, Canada’s existing federal safeguards are among the most rigorous in the world. Eligibility assessments require careful evaluation of capacity, voluntariness, and the presence of grievous and irremediable medical conditions. Additional barriers at the provincial level do not enhance safety; rather, they delay or deny access to a legally sanctioned and carefully regulated medical service. For patients experiencing intolerable suffering, such delays can prolong distress, increase desperation, and in some cases lead to more traumatic or unassisted deaths. Compassionate care should prioritize alleviating suffering, not prolonging it against a patient’s expressed wishes.

Restrictions on gender-affirming care similarly conflict with established medical standards. Major professional organizations recognize such care—including counselling, hormone therapy, and, where appropriate, surgical interventions—as medically necessary for many transgender individuals. Limiting access, particularly for youth under appropriate clinical oversight, disregards the consensus of the medical community and may contribute to worsening mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Policies that stigmatize or obstruct care do not protect individuals; they place them at greater risk.

Further, restricting or penalizing patients for seeking medically appropriate care in another province is inconsistent with the principles of Canada’s universal healthcare system. The Canada Health Act is founded on accessibility, portability, and universality—ensuring that Canadians can obtain necessary care regardless of where they are in the country. Efforts to limit out-of-province access create artificial barriers that fragment care, undermine national standards, and disproportionately harm those who must travel to receive specialized or legally available services. Patients should not be confined by provincial borders when seeking compassionate, lawful, and medically indicated care.

Both areas of care require nuanced, individualized clinical judgment. Blanket legislative restrictions fail to account for the diversity of patient experiences and needs. They also undermine the physician–patient relationship by introducing fear, uncertainty, and potential legal consequences into what should be a space of trust and open dialogue.

Equity is another critical concern. Barriers to MAiD and gender-affirming care disproportionately affect those with fewer resources—individuals in rural areas, those with limited mobility, and marginalized communities. When access is restricted, those with means may still find alternatives, while others are left without options. This deepens existing health disparities and contradicts the principle of equitable access to care.

We recognize that these issues evoke strong and varied perspectives. However, ethical healthcare policy must be grounded in respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. It must also be informed by clinical expertise and empirical evidence rather than ideology.

Humanist Canada calls on policymakers to reconsider these measures and to engage thoughtfully with healthcare professionals, patients, and affected communities. Legislation should enable compassionate, patient-centered care—not restrict it. Above all, protecting the dignity, well-being, and rights of individuals must remain the guiding priority in all healthcare legislation.