We, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada, Health Canada, and all provincial/territorial health authorities to immediately take concrete steps to increase equitable access to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and 2-Spirit Canadians.

According to Health Canada’s official Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying (2024), over 95% of MAID recipients identified as Caucasian (White), even though Caucasian people make up only about 70% of Canada’s population. This stark disparity — consistent with previous years — means that non-Caucasian Canadians are significantly underrepresented among those able to exercise their legal right to a dignified end-of-life choice.

Everyone in Canada who meets the strict medical eligibility criteria for MAID should have equal, barrier-free access to this compassionate option, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or cultural background. Yet systemic barriers — including lack of culturally safe information, language gaps, mistrust in the healthcare system rooted in historical injustices, under-representation of diverse providers, and insufficient community outreach — are preventing BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and 2-Spirit individuals from accessing the same end-of-life autonomy that others enjoy.

This is not just a statistic. It is a profound equity issue:

Many Indigenous, Black, Asian, Latinx, and other racialized communities face unique cultural, spiritual, and historical challenges when navigating end-of-life care.
2-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people often experience compounded discrimination and isolation, especially in rural or conservative areas.
Without targeted action, these communities are effectively denied the same rights and choices afforded to the majority.
We demand the following urgent actions:

Launch nationwide, culturally tailored public education campaigns about MAID in multiple languages and through trusted community leaders and organizations serving BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and 2-Spirit populations.
Fund training programs for healthcare providers on culturally safe MAID assessments and delivery, with a focus on anti-racism, anti-colonial, and 2SLGBTQIA+ competency.
Require provinces and territories to collect and publicly report disaggregated data on MAID requests, approvals, and barriers by race, ethnicity, Indigenous identity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Invest in community-based support services and peer navigation programs to help marginalized Canadians understand and access MAID without stigma or gatekeeping.
Establish an independent equity oversight body to monitor and address any disparities in MAID access moving forward.
MAID was legalized in Canada to uphold dignity, autonomy, and compassion for all. True compassion means ensuring every eligible Canadian — not just 95%+ Caucasian — can access it without systemic obstacles.

Sign this petition today and urge the federal government and provincial health ministers to act now. Every Canadian deserves the right to a peaceful, dignified death on their own terms — equally.

Thank you for standing with us for equity in end-of-life care.