Image – Shutterstock
In a tragic but utterly predictable move, the Canadian Government have abolished the post of Disabilities Minister, a deeply troubling move as the country’s assisted‑dying regime (MAiD) continues to expand – a move which can only be seen as a direct attack on the value of disabled lives.
In March 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney reshuffled his cabinet, eliminating the dedicated role for disability affairs previously held by Kamal Khera. Instead, responsibility was folded under general portfolios like Jobs and Families. For roughly 8 million Canadians with disabilities, this signals a demotion of their needs in favour of broader agendas, including rapid MAiD expansion.
This elimination of focused representation coincides with troubling data: over 58% of MAiD recipients under “Track 2” (where natural death isn’t imminent) had reported disabilities. Critics see a direct correlation: when practical supports are scarce, many disabled individuals may feel euthanasia is their best – or only – option. One quadriplegic woman shared that it takes mere months to access MAiD but half a year to receive disability support – “starve them… and then offer them death” summed up her concerns.
Any pro‑life stance always emphasises that true compassion affirms life, not termination. Abolishing the minister role sends an implicit message: the government values killing over caring. Council Life Coalition’s David Cooke warned this signals a preference for euthanasia over “improving medical and social supports” for a vulnerable population.
International monitors agree. In March 2025, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities urged Canada to repeal Track 2, denouncing it as ableist and a violation of disabled people’s rights to life and equality. The EU echoed concerns that MAiD risks becoming a fiscal convenience rather than a last‑resort medical intervention – an outcome antithetical to dignity.
Pro‑life advocates argue Canada is on a perilous path: dismantling dedicated care while extending state‑sanctioned death. Rather than safeguarding vulnerable groups, the government is effectively offering an easy exit out of systemic neglect.
The abolition of the Disabilities Minister, coming in tandem with assisted‑dying expansions, highlights ideological priorities – where care is devalued, and death is uncritically provided. For many, who value all human life, this is unacceptable. Respect for life demands robust investment in disability supports: accessible healthcare, meaningful accommodations, and financial safety nets.
A truly compassionate society does not sacrifice its most vulnerable. Canada’s current course – easing access to death while trimming disability advocacy – is both cruel and contradictory. To uphold human dignity, we must reinstate committed disability leadership and reinvest in life‑affirming care.
If you’re reading this and haven’t yet donated to SPUC, please consider helping now. Thank You!
