As a social worker and mental health recovery advocate who has experienced severe mental illness in Canada and recovery in Australia, I consider the legislation in Canada to permit lethal injections to people with mental illness under the country’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) system to be extremely unethical and appalling. I’ve formerly identified some of the reasons for my position on this subject directly to the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying (Submission, November 11, 2023).

Despite considerable objections by many Canadians: “The eligibility date for person’s suffering solely from a mental illness [for death by MAID] is now March 17, 2027” (Government of Canada). 

Politicians have already expanded eligibility for MAID to non-terminal conditions and MAID is currently the 5th leading cause of death in Canada. Demand for MAID has increased in the context of a medical system in crisis, under-funding for palliative care, and the active promotion of MAID to highly vulnerable Canadians.   

Investigative journalist Sam Cooper at The Bureau has advocated for a review into MAID due to damning facts and major concerns about how it is being administered, as well as evidence suggesting that socio-economic issues may be driving its exponential growth (From Exception to Routine: Why Canada’s State-Assisted Suicide Regime Demands a Human-Rights Review, December 4, 2025).

I fully support an external review into the application and administration of MAID at this time. 

For the record, I lost faith in the Canadian government — and the integrity of mainstream media to keep citizens informed about issues — decades ago, while I was a whistleblower campaigning for an investigation into evidence of systemic corruption at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) related to a media company subsidy scheme: hereinafter referred to as “the File 1000-121 Affair” (Global Television, August 8, 1995). Only one member of Parliament — Dan McTeague — had the integrity and courage to fully support me and help challenge some of the most powerful vested interests in the country, asserting that I was ahead of my time (Global Television, August 8, 1995).  

Research indicates that I am finally part of a significant cohort in the country.   

To quote an article titled ‘Faith in Gov’t Collapses’ that was published by an independent news outlet: “Nearly half of Canadians surveyed distrust the federal government to “make good decisions in the public interest,” according to in-house Privy Council research [and only] 46 percent said they trusted news media” (Blacklock’s Reporter, May 21, 2026). It is no surprise only 48 percent of Canadians in the study reported being satisfied with the way democracy is working in the country.

Major democratic reform has been required in Canada for a long time. 

Given the scheduled commencement of MAID for mental illness, I’ve decided that it is the right time for me to publicly return to the role of a pro-democracy activist and publicly address the ongoing File 1000-121 Affair, as well as share my story of mental health recovery.  

The link between the File 1000-121 Affair, my story of recovery, and MAID for mental illness was actually identified in 2016 by Patrick W. Corrigan, identified by Stanford University as being in the top 2% of most cited scientists in the world (IIT, March 25, 2024). Professor Corrigan was a renowned American mental health scholar, researcher and the world-leading expert on the stigma of mental illness. He  passed away earlier this year. 

Shortly after Justin Trudeau became prime minister of Canada, he was sent a letter by Professor Corrigan (Open Letter, February 22, 2016). According to the prominent social scientist, an investigation into the File 1000-121 Affair, would serve to challenge stigma, raise awareness of recovery and inspire hope. Professor Corrigan stated to Mr. Trudeau: “If you choose to initiate an investigation into the company subsidy scheme as requested by Mr. Mahar, there inevitably will be media coverage of his public interest campaign to address this issue, including his personal experience of severe mental illness and recovery. Knowledge of Mr. Mahar’s story will serve to challenge the stigma of mental illness, raise awareness of recovery, and inspire hope for people with mental health problems and their families.”

Hope is the catalyst for recovery from severe mental illness and a key protective factor against suicide. 

And ignorance and stigma about are the reasons why recovery-oriented services and supports are chronically under-funded in Canada, and a majority of members of Parliament support legislation permitting lethal injections for people whose sole medical condition is mental illness.