In a chilling echo of the 1970s science fiction movie Logan’s Run, Canada now euthanizes more humans through its Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program than it does dogs in animal shelters each year. Recent figures indicate approximately 16,425 Canadians were euthanized in 2024, compared to around 7,644 dogs euthanized annually in shelters — a ratio exceeding 2:1. This underscores a broader trend: Since MAID’s legalization in 2016, the program has grown exponentially, raising questions about the perverse incentives of a society that values GDP over human life, the proper purpose of healthcare, and government involvement in death.

MAID was introduced following the Supreme Court’s 2015 Carter v. Canada ruling, which struck down bans on assisted suicide for those with grievous and irremediable conditions. Initially limited to terminally ill adults, eligibility expanded in 2021 to include non-terminal chronic illnesses. By 2024, MAID accounted for 5.1 percent of all deaths in Canada, with 16,499 provisions — a 6.9-percent increase from 2023, though growth rates have slowed since peaking at 31.1 percent in 2022. The cumulative total reached 76,475 by year’s end, on track to surpass 100,000 by mid-2026, nearing the program’s 10th anniversary. This figure eclipses Canada’s World War II battle deaths (42,042) and highlights MAID as the fifth leading cause of death nationwide.

Violation of Ethics

The program’s efficiency has drawn scrutiny. In Ontario alone, 219 people received MAID within a day of requesting it in 2023, with 30 percent dying the same day. A disturbing case involved an elderly woman, “Mrs. B,” who initially requested MAID but withdrew consent for religious reasons. Despite this, and amid concerns of coercion due to her husband’s “caregiver burnout,” she was reassessed and euthanized hours later by a third practitioner. In short, her life was terminated against her own wishes — and to satisfy her husband’s convenience — which amounts to what used to be called “homicide.” Critics argue this reflects a clear erosion of biomedical ethics.

Expansion nevertheless continues: Starting March 2027, MAID will include those with mental illness as the sole condition, despite warnings about long wait times for psychiatric care and rising mental-health crises affecting more than five million Canadians. Cases such as 26-year-old Kiano Vafaeian, approved for MAID due to diabetes, seasonal depression, and vision issues, illustrate the broadening scope. Proponents cite autonomy and compassion, but opponents decry it as state-sanctioned murder, noting 96 percent of recipients are white and that the program suggests a larger agenda to ethnically terraform Canada.

This strategy is artfully being hidden, with Health Canada explicitly stating that MAID is not classified as a cause of death by the World Health Organization. As euthanasia racks up more victims, the statisticians can hide the direct precipitating factor in these murders.

The Real Reason?

Meanwhile, palliative care access remains inconsistent; while 74.1 percent of 2024 MAID recipients received it, this is down from 82 percent in 2019, fueling debates over whether MAID substitutes for underfunded support services. As Canada approaches 110,000 MAID deaths by late 2026, the program tests the boundaries of dignity versus devaluation of life.

This article is part of The New American’s weekly online newsletter Insider Report, which is emailed to TNA subscribers each week. Click here to subscribe to The New American to receive the Insider Report and access exclusive content.

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