The End-of-Life Working Group (EOLWG) was established in 2014, with a cross section of members appointed by relevant Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Sections, which now include: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Child and Youth, Canadian Corporate Counsel Association, Constitutional and Human Rights, Criminal Justice, Elder, Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Health and Wills and Estates.
The EOLWG mandate is to develop and implement policy positions on behalf of the CBA about end-of-life issues. The authority for the policy positions taken by the EOLWG are derived from resolutions adopted by CBA members at the Annual General Meetings.
Resolutions
Latest Programs and Initiatives 1
Resolution | August 12, 2016
Medical Assistance in Dying for Competent Minors
A Canadian Bar Association resolution passed at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Council.
Resolution | August 12, 2016
Medical Assistance in Dying and Psychiatric Conditions
A Canadian Bar Association resolution passed at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Council.
Resolution | August 12, 2016
Advance Requests for Medical Assistance in Dying
A Canadian Bar Association resolution passed at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Council.
Resolution | August 13, 2015
Physician-Assisted Dying
Whereas in Carter v. Canada (Attorney General), the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously declared Criminal Code sections 241(b) (assisted suicide) and 14 (consent to death) to be unconstitutional and “void insofar as they prohibit physician-assisted death for a competent adult person...
Resolution | February 21, 2015
Clarifying Law About End of Life Decision-Making
WHEREAS end of life decision-making in health care is legally, ethically and emotionally challenging
Past Submissions
Latest Programs and Initiatives 1
Submission | April 06, 2023
Delay for Medical Assistance in Dying Where Sole Underlying Condition is a Mental Illness
The CBA expresses concern with the delay of eligibility to medical assistance in dying for persons with mental illnesses.
Submission | May 09, 2022
Medical Assistance in Dying
The CBA comments on medical assistance in dying for persons with mental illnesses, mature minors and advance requests.
Submission | February 09, 2022
Medical Assistance in Dying
The CBA comments on medical assistance in dying for persons with mental illnesses, mature minors and advance requests.
Submission | November 04, 2020
Bill C-7 – Criminal Code amendments (medical assistance in dying)
The CBA comments on Bill C-7, Criminal Code amendments on medical assistance in dying.
Submission | February 11, 2020
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
The CBA comments on the proposed response to a ruling that some restrictions on the eligibility to medical assistance in dying are unconstitutional.
Submission | October 04, 2019
Medical Assistance in Dying
The CBA supports a ruling that some restrictions on the eligibility to medical assistance in dying are unconstitutional and encourages the federal government to work with provinces and territories to ensure eligibility is aligned with SCC guidance.
Submission | February 13, 2018
Monitoring of Medical Assistance in Dying Regulations
The CBA urges Health Canada to reconsider regulatory approach for monitoring medical assistance in dying.
Submission | October 06, 2017
Medical Assistance in Dying
The CBA responds to the Expert Panel on Medical Assistance in Dying, tasked with examining issues about requests by mature minors, advance requests, and requests where mental illness is the sole underlying medical condition.
Submission | June 13, 2017
Medical Assistance in Dying – Monitoring Regime
The CBA comments on a proposed federal framework for monitoring medical assistance in dying.
Submission | May 26, 2017
End-of-Life Decisions – Advance Requests
The CBA encourages the Chairs of the three Working Groups (mature minors, advance requests, mental illness) established by the Expert Panel on Medical Assistance in Dying to consider the experiences of lawyers and their clients.
Submission | May 26, 2017
End-of-Life Decisions – Mature Minors
The CBA encourages the Chairs of the three Working Groups (mature minors, advance requests, mental illness) established by the Expert Panel on Medical Assistance in Dying to consider the experiences of lawyers and their clients.
Submission | May 26, 2017
End-of-Life Decisions – Mental Illness
The CBA encourages the Chairs of the three Working Groups (mature minors, advance requests, mental illness) established by the Expert Panel on Medical Assistance in Dying to consider the experiences of lawyers and their clients.
Submission | March 24, 2017
Medical Assistance in Dying - Monitoring System
The CBA urges the Minister of Health to accelerate plans for a coordinated pan-Canadian information collection system for medical assistance in dying.
Submission | January 23, 2017
Independent Reviews - Medical Assistance in Dying
The CBA extends offer of assistance on Medical Assistance in Dying studies to be undertaken by Council of Canadian Academies.
Submission | November 08, 2016
Medical Assistance in Dying — Advance Requests, Mature Minors and Persons with Mental Illness
The CBA advocates legislative amendments and comments on proposed studies about medical assistance in dying and advance requests, eligibility of mature minors and of persons with mental illness.
Submission | May 04, 2016
Bill C-14 — Medical Assistance in Dying (Letter to Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs)
The Canadian Bar Association recommends amendments to Bill C-14 (medical assistance in dying) to align with Carter v. Canada.
Submission | May 04, 2016
Bill C-14 — Medical Assistance in Dying (Letter to Justice and Human Rights Committee)
The Canadian Bar Association recommends amendments to Bill C-14 (medical assistance in dying) to align with Carter v. Canada.
Submission | February 08, 2016
Physician-Assisted Dying
The Canadian Bar Association makes recommendations to the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying.
Submission | November 02, 2015
Physician Assisted Dying
The CBA encourages the Provincial/Territorial Expert Advisory Group on Physician-Assisted Dying to adopt a harmonized, clear and principled approach to end of life decision-making, including timely access to physician assisted dying.
Submission | November 02, 2015
Legislative Response to Carter v. Canada (Physician Assisted Dying)
The CBA tells the federal External Panel on Options for a Legislative Response to Carter v. Canada that it supports amendments to the Criminal Code and harmonized provincial and territorial legislation to address physician-assisted dying.