Cardinal Frank Leo Urges MPs to “Choose Life” as Debate on Bill C-218 Stalls

Cardinal Frank Leo urges MPs to support Bill C-218, warning against MAiD expansion and calling for compassion and care for vulnerable Canadians.

Newsroom (22/04/2026 Gaudium Press) In a direct appeal to federal leadership, Cardinal Frank Leo has called on Prime Minister Mark Carney and Members of Parliament representing the Greater Toronto Area to oppose the expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAiD), urging them instead to “choose life and not death” when voting on Bill C-218.

The proposed legislation, known as the Right to Recover Act, was introduced last year by Conservative MP Tamara Jansen. As a private member’s bill, C-218 seeks to prevent the expansion of MAiD eligibility to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. That expansion is currently scheduled to come into force on March 17, 2027.

Although Parliament was expected to debate the bill earlier this month, its position in the House of Commons order of precedence has been pushed back, and no new date for debate has been scheduled.

In letters dated April 20, Cardinal Leo framed the issue as a defining measure of societal values. He reminded the Prime Minister and MPs that a society “is rightly judged” by how it treats its most vulnerable members. He pointed to growing unease among Canadians regarding the trajectory of MAiD since its legalization in 2016.

Since that time, approximately 100,000 medically assisted deaths have taken place in Canada. Leo argued that the country has moved far beyond the original safeguards, which envisioned MAiD as an option only for individuals facing imminent death.

“Our Catholic faith opposes the taking of any life and it is with great disappointment and anguish that we have seen our country expand (MAiD) at a rapid and alarming rate,” he wrote.

In his correspondence, the Cardinal characterized assisted suicide and euthanasia as fundamentally incompatible with human dignity. He warned that continued expansion risks reshaping the country’s moral and social fabric.Preview (opens in a new tab)

“There is growing anxiety that the normalization and expansion of assisted suicide risks undermining a culture of compassion, weakening investments in palliative support and diminishing the collective commitment to accompany those suffering,” Leo wrote.

The Archdiocese of Toronto, under Leo’s leadership, has also taken an active role in mobilizing public response. It is spearheading the nationwide “Help Not Harm” campaign, launched last month, which encourages Canadians to contact their elected representatives in support of Bill C-218.

By mid-April, approximately 5,000 letters had been submitted through the campaign’s online portal. According to Neil MacCarthy, director of public relations and communications for the Archdiocese, parishes and members of the faithful are being urged to sustain their efforts.

“We are encouraging parishes and faithful to continue their efforts through the month of April and until a date for the vote is announced,” MacCarthy said earlier this month.

Beyond advocating for the bill itself, Cardinal Leo also called on Prime Minister Carney to allow Liberal MPs a free vote when the legislation comes before Parliament. He emphasized that the issue transcends party lines and enters the realm of personal conscience.

“This legislation raises profound questions of conscience that transcend partisan alignment and touch on deeply held moral, ethical and spiritual convictions,” Leo wrote.

In a broader appeal, the Cardinal urged federal leaders to reconsider the direction of end-of-life policy in Canada. He called for measures to halt further expansion of assisted suicide and to redirect national focus toward strengthening care systems.

Specifically, Leo asked the Prime Minister and Justice Minister Sean Fraser to prioritize investments in palliative care, mental health services, and supports for marginalized populations, including seniors and Canadians living with disabilities.

“I ask you to choose life and not death; to help build a civilization that cares for those suffering and does not eliminate them, but instead surrounds them with dignity, compassion and love,” he wrote.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Register

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