Let's talk about Canada's MAID decision: Who bears the burden of policy?
On October 27, 2026, the federal government introduced Bill C-41 to indefinitely maintain the exclusion of people whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness from MAID eligibility.
The Neurodiversity Change Foundation (NCF) has already contributed to this debate, advocating for autonomy, equity, individualized safeguards and meaningful neurodivergent participation.
But our concern today is about accountability. Policy intended to protect people and improve quality of life must not leave those same people carrying the burden of its consequences.
A 2026 Manitoba study found that autistic people aged 13–45 had 3.14 times the adjusted risk of recorded suicide attempts compared with non-autistic people. A Danish population study also documented more than threefold higher rates of suicide attempts and deaths by suicide among autistic people, after adjusting for sex, age and time period.
MAID is not a solution to suicidality. But the public debate presents an important opportunity to address disparities and unmet needs in neurodivergent mental health. This policy decision was not accompanied by new, dedicated investment or a clear plan for neuro-inclusive mental healthcare and suicide prevention.
The government cites $1.2 billion for 2027–28—but this is a one-year continuation of funding for mental health, substance use, and home and community care, not new funding targeted to neurodivergent people experiencing disproportionate suicide risk.
Nor does the announcement identify how governments will measure changes in neurodivergent people's access to care, suicide attempts, or deaths.
What is the plan to improve our community's quality of life? Who will be accountable, and how will we know whether it is working?
Without targeted investment and measurable outcomes, the burden of inadequate services remains with the people the policy is intended to protect. This should worry us.
Although organizations hold different positions on MAID eligibility, we can work together to address the unmet mental health needs of neurodivergent Canadians.
NCF welcomes engagement and dialogue with organizations interested in identifying concrete actions to advance neuro-inclusive mental healthcare, suicide prevention and accountability.
Protecting lives requires investing in lives—and measuring whether those investments make a difference.
