New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds nearly four-in-five Canadians (77%) continue to support the original 2016 MAID criteria. Support falls to 53% for the 2021 expansion, and opinion divides sharply on mental illness as a sole condition — 43% in support, 39% opposed, and 19% unsure. Three-quarters (74%) say the government should first demonstrate that adequate housing, income supports, and disability-related care are available before MAID is offered to someone with a disability.
Support across criteria
The mental illness debate
Political divisions
Disability & care
Concern over deaths
Methodology
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Support across MAID criteria
Support remains strong for the 2016 law, softens for the 2021 expansion, and divides sharply on mental illness
Support for the original 2016 MAID criteria — covering adults with severe and irremediable suffering whose natural death was reasonably foreseeable — remains nearly four-in-five (77% strongly support or support; 15% oppose). The 2021 expansion, which extended eligibility to those whose deaths are not reasonably foreseeable ("Track 2"), draws softer support at 53%, with uncertainty rising to 23%. The prospect of mental illness as a sole underlying condition generates the most hesitation — 43% support, 39% oppose, and 19% remain unsure.
Strongly support
Support
Oppose
Strongly oppose
Not sure
The mental illness debate
Most Canadians were unaware of the 2027 expansion — and awareness sharpens but does not resolve the divide
The majority of Canadians (56%) were unaware that mental illness eligibility for MAID could arrive in March 2027 before completing this survey; just 37% had been following the issue. Awareness does not close the gap — it intensifies it. Among those following the news, "not sure" drops from 21% to 10%, but both support (46%) and opposition (44%) rise almost equally. Among those unaware, the response is softer on both sides with more uncertainty. Opinions on this issue remain deeply divided regardless of prior knowledge.
Strongly support
Support
Oppose
Strongly oppose
Not sure
Political divisions
Liberal, NDP and Bloc voters lean toward allowing mental illness MAID — CPC voters are the most opposed
Views on mental illness as a sole MAID condition divide sharply by federal vote. Past Liberal voters lean in favour (51% support), as do past NDP (55%) and Bloc Québécois (61%) voters. Past Conservative voters are the most opposed: 57% oppose including 31% who strongly oppose, while 29% support expansion. Prime Minister Carney has said he is awaiting a parliamentary committee report before taking a position. Across all partisan groups, "not sure" ranges from 13% (CPC) to 22% (Liberal), reflecting the complexity and novelty of this debate for many Canadians.
Strongly support
Support
Oppose
Strongly oppose
Not sure
Disability & care concerns
Three-quarters say government must demonstrate adequate supports before MAID is offered to someone with a disability
Regardless of their views on MAID eligibility, Canadians broadly agree that vulnerable people should not be driven to assisted dying by poverty, inadequate care, or lack of social supports. Three-quarters (74%) agree — including 37% who strongly agree — that the government should be required to demonstrate adequate housing, income supports, and disability-related care are available before MAID is offered to a person with a disability. When asked to choose between two competing arguments on mental illness as a sole MAID condition, opinion is roughly split: 31% are closer to the pro-expansion argument, 33% to the anti-expansion argument, and 26% say both have real merit.
Pro-expansion argument
Anti-expansion argument
Both have real merit
Neither / Not sure
Concern over rising deaths
Most Canadians are not concerned about rising MAID deaths — but religious Canadians and those with no personal exposure are more worried
In 2024, 16,499 people received MAID in Canada — one-in-20 deaths that year, and a 16-fold increase since 2016. Despite this growth, most Canadians (57%) say they are not concerned about the number of deaths involving MAID; one-third (35%) say they are very concerned or concerned. Concern is higher among those who report a religious affiliation (43%) compared to non-religious Canadians (25%). Those with no personal connection to MAID are more worried (38%) than those who know someone who requested and received MAID (25%).
% very concerned or concerned about rising MAID deaths
About this survey
Methodology and downloads
The Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey from May 7–11, 2026, among a randomized sample of 1,803 Canadian adults. Respondents are drawn from the Angus Reid Forum. The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to region, gender, age, household income, and education, based on the Canadian census. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/– 2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The survey was self-commissioned and paid for by ARI.
