With 76,475 dead, Canada appears to find its line on euthanasia

- Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program, legalized in 2016 and expanded in 2021, has seen a much faster growth in use than other countries with assisted dying — over 75,000 people have died under it by mid-2026, making it one of the world’s most permissive regimes. - Controversy has centered on "track 2" MAiD, which allows death for people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness (added in 2023), and on cases where homelessness, poverty, or lack of access to disability supports have been cited as reasons for seeking euthanasia. - The piece reports that Canada’s government is now moving to tighten eligibility — specifically by limiting access for those whose suffering stems primarily from social or economic deprivation — signaling a possible inflection point after years of expansion. - For international observers, the Canadian experience has become a key case study in debates over where to draw ethical boundaries for assisted dying, especially regarding vulnerable populations and the role of systemic social failures.