Jocelyn Downie
@jgdownie.bsky.social
Professor Emeritus, Faculties of Law and Medicine, Dalhousie University. Working on assisted dying, sport integrity, photography, and woodturning.
NY MAiD bill signed this afternoon. Respect for autonomy and relief of suffering advanced significantly.
February 6, 2026 at 11:52 PM
NY MAiD bill signed this afternoon. Respect for autonomy and relief of suffering advanced significantly.
Week 2 of 6-week exchange between MAiD in Canada and Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. Facts and logic this week.
maidincanada.substack.com?utm_source=n...
maidincanada.substack.com?utm_source=n...
MAiD in Canada | Paul Magennis | Substack
MAiD in Canada delivers accurate, compassionate insights on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). Led by nurses Paul and Kim, we address misinformation, share updates, and explore key issues to inform a...
maidincanada.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Week 2 of 6-week exchange between MAiD in Canada and Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. Facts and logic this week.
maidincanada.substack.com?utm_source=n...
maidincanada.substack.com?utm_source=n...
Reposted by Jocelyn Downie
Families want Canadian provinces to end MAID opt-out policy for faith-based hospitals. There are more than 100 forced transfers at end-of-life each year, by Caroline Barghout
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... via @cbcnews.ca @dyingwithdignity.ca
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... via @cbcnews.ca @dyingwithdignity.ca
Dying With Dignity Canada | It's your life. It's your choice.
Dying With Dignity Canada is the national human-rights charity committed to improving quality of dying, protecting end-of-life rights, and helping people across Canada avoid unwanted suffering.
dyingwithdignity.ca
January 21, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Families want Canadian provinces to end MAID opt-out policy for faith-based hospitals. There are more than 100 forced transfers at end-of-life each year, by Caroline Barghout
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... via @cbcnews.ca @dyingwithdignity.ca
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... via @cbcnews.ca @dyingwithdignity.ca
Reposted by Jocelyn Downie
Carney: "American hegemony in particular helped provide public goods, a stable financial system... this bargain no longer works. Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition... recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as a weapon. Tariffs as leverage ... "
January 20, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Carney: "American hegemony in particular helped provide public goods, a stable financial system... this bargain no longer works. Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition... recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as a weapon. Tariffs as leverage ... "
Reposted by Jocelyn Downie
Canada must not do this. It is a mockery of international political governance, legitimizing the idea that Trump can simply push aside other countries' sovereignty.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Carney mulling $1B membership to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’
The Canadian PM said the POTUS invite came "a few weeks ago."
www.politico.com
January 18, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Canada must not do this. It is a mockery of international political governance, legitimizing the idea that Trump can simply push aside other countries' sovereignty.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Jocelyn Downie
An op-ed from Matthew Herder, an Applied Public Health Chair and Professor at Dalhousie University.
The timing of this is really quite something.
#GiftLink 🎁
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
The timing of this is really quite something.
#GiftLink 🎁
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
January 18, 2026 at 12:30 PM
An op-ed from Matthew Herder, an Applied Public Health Chair and Professor at Dalhousie University.
The timing of this is really quite something.
#GiftLink 🎁
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
The timing of this is really quite something.
#GiftLink 🎁
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Jocelyn Downie
It really is a government of moral cowardice.
Canada denies participation in the Danish military exercise in Greenland: "As of this moment, the Canadian Armed Forces are not initiating any new operations in Greenland," said Maya Ouferhat, press secretary in the office of Canada's minister of national defense.
Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and France will participate alongside Denmark to expanded military exercises in Greenland.
Scoop with @victorjack.bsky.social and Chris Lunday www.politico.eu/article/denm...
Scoop with @victorjack.bsky.social and Chris Lunday www.politico.eu/article/denm...
January 15, 2026 at 12:50 AM
It really is a government of moral cowardice.
Just wrote to my MP Shannon Miedema to ask for position and actions on X.
Just learned that the office of my Victoria MP, Will Greaves, @willgreavesmp.bsky.social will no longer be posting on X/Twitter. It would be interesting to hear which other MP's are boycotting X/Twitter.
January 13, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Just wrote to my MP Shannon Miedema to ask for position and actions on X.
Reposted by Jocelyn Downie
A trial beginning today in BC Supreme Court questions whether publicly funded faith-based hospitals should be allowed to prevent patients from receiving medical assistance in dying in their facilities
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...
Charter challenge over religious exemptions to MAID goes before B.C.’s Supreme Court
Trial questions whether publicly funded faith-based hospitals should be allowed to prevent patients from receiving medical assistance in dying
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:03 PM
A trial beginning today in BC Supreme Court questions whether publicly funded faith-based hospitals should be allowed to prevent patients from receiving medical assistance in dying in their facilities
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...
Now they know. Will they let their provincial governments know that they object to the Archbishops deciding what health care their taxpayer funded hospitals won't provide? Will they object to people being transferred across town in agony when all the facility has to do is let providers in?
Canadians could be forgiven for not knowing there are publicly funded faith-based hospitals in their community until they need an abortion or assisted death.
A trial beginning today in BC Supreme Court questions whether publicly funded faith-based hospitals should be allowed to prevent patients from receiving medical assistance in dying in their facilities
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...
January 12, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Now they know. Will they let their provincial governments know that they object to the Archbishops deciding what health care their taxpayer funded hospitals won't provide? Will they object to people being transferred across town in agony when all the facility has to do is let providers in?
Reposted by Jocelyn Downie
NEW POST: Is Canada morally leaderless? emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/is-canada-...
Is Canada is morally leaderless?
For anyone born in the 70s or 80s, it is abundantly clear we’re living in the most perilous period of our lifetimes.
emmettmacfarlane.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:12 PM
NEW POST: Is Canada morally leaderless? emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/is-canada-...
With an impressive pro bono team from Arvay Finlay representing the plaintiffs - living up to the firm's storied past and leaning into its remarkable present and future. Then - Arvay & Latimer for Carter et al. Now - Gage, Phipps, Mutch, Wardrop, and Boies Parker for O'Neill et al.
The start of the trial has finally arrived. Now we will see how the BC government attempts to defend allowing access to publicly-funded healthcare to be controlled by Catholic beliefs and values (through the Archbishop!) www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
Religious exemptions to assisted dying law: B.C. Supreme Court to hear Charter challenge
A trial set to begin Monday in British Columbia’s Supreme Court questions whether publicly funded faith-based hospitals should be allowed to prevent patients from receiving medical assistance in dying...
www.ctvnews.ca
January 11, 2026 at 11:04 PM
With an impressive pro bono team from Arvay Finlay representing the plaintiffs - living up to the firm's storied past and leaning into its remarkable present and future. Then - Arvay & Latimer for Carter et al. Now - Gage, Phipps, Mutch, Wardrop, and Boies Parker for O'Neill et al.
The start of the trial has finally arrived. Now we will see how the BC government attempts to defend allowing access to publicly-funded healthcare to be controlled by Catholic beliefs and values (through the Archbishop!) www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
Religious exemptions to assisted dying law: B.C. Supreme Court to hear Charter challenge
A trial set to begin Monday in British Columbia’s Supreme Court questions whether publicly funded faith-based hospitals should be allowed to prevent patients from receiving medical assistance in dying...
www.ctvnews.ca
January 11, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The start of the trial has finally arrived. Now we will see how the BC government attempts to defend allowing access to publicly-funded healthcare to be controlled by Catholic beliefs and values (through the Archbishop!) www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
For deep insight into the issue of MAiD where mental illness is sole underlying condition. Such thoughtful engagement with a person with lived experience. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/h...
Claire Brosseau Wants to Die. Will Canada Let Her?
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:41 PM
For deep insight into the issue of MAiD where mental illness is sole underlying condition. Such thoughtful engagement with a person with lived experience. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/h...
A stunning articulation of what the UN rapporteur and domestic opponents of MAiD get wrong (again and again) about MAiD MI-SUMC from a person with lived experience (ie precisely who we should most be listening to). open.substack.com/pub/idontrem...
To The UN’s Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
I sent this to the CRPD regarding their statements about MAID MI-SUMC in Canada.
open.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:42 AM
A stunning articulation of what the UN rapporteur and domestic opponents of MAiD get wrong (again and again) about MAiD MI-SUMC from a person with lived experience (ie precisely who we should most be listening to). open.substack.com/pub/idontrem...
Be a grapefruit lady youtube.com/shorts/O5yK7...
Fruit for thought. Never judge a book by its cover. #comedy #histoty #storytelling #standup
YouTube video by David Nihill
youtube.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Be a grapefruit lady youtube.com/shorts/O5yK7...
Reposted by Jocelyn Downie
Over the next few weeks, we’re going to examine some lesser-discussed findings in the 6th Annual Report on MAiD, starting with the false media claim that people choose MAiD because of isolation or loneliness. HC confirms what we found in our earlier BC work.
maidincanada.substack.com/p/isolation-...
maidincanada.substack.com/p/isolation-...
Isolation, Loneliness, and MAiD: What the New Health Canada Report Actually Shows
Check out reference #30 on page 29 of the Report. Thank you Health Canada🎉🥳
maidincanada.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Over the next few weeks, we’re going to examine some lesser-discussed findings in the 6th Annual Report on MAiD, starting with the false media claim that people choose MAiD because of isolation or loneliness. HC confirms what we found in our earlier BC work.
maidincanada.substack.com/p/isolation-...
maidincanada.substack.com/p/isolation-...
Reposted by Jocelyn Downie
Once again FactcheckAFP calling something @kelsisheren.bsky.social said about MAiD to be 100% false. Her claim: "In order to have MAiD you have to say yes to organ donation". Don't try to correct her though, she's "not at all uneducated in this realm". 🤦♀️🤦
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Once again FactcheckAFP calling something @kelsisheren.bsky.social said about MAiD to be 100% false. Her claim: "In order to have MAiD you have to say yes to organ donation". Don't try to correct her though, she's "not at all uneducated in this realm". 🤦♀️🤦
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Reposted by Jocelyn Downie
They died because they were women.
December 6, 1989.
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. www.cbc.ca/montreal/fea...
December 6, 1989.
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. www.cbc.ca/montreal/fea...
December 6, 2025 at 3:59 PM
They died because they were women.
December 6, 1989.
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. www.cbc.ca/montreal/fea...
December 6, 1989.
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. www.cbc.ca/montreal/fea...
Working on special issue on the truth about MAiD in Canada. Struck by what a collaborative, compassionate, collegial, & constructive community we have committed to using rigourous research to pursue the goals of our system - respect autonomy, alleviate suffering, and protect vulnerable persons.
December 5, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Working on special issue on the truth about MAiD in Canada. Struck by what a collaborative, compassionate, collegial, & constructive community we have committed to using rigourous research to pursue the goals of our system - respect autonomy, alleviate suffering, and protect vulnerable persons.
Solid summary of 6th Annual Report on MAiD in Canada by CP www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
Most assisted deaths in Canada come after cancer diagnosis, annual report finds
Most people who chose medical assistance in dying in 2024 had a cancer diagnosis and were over the age of 70, new data from Health Canada shows.
www.ctvnews.ca
December 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Solid summary of 6th Annual Report on MAiD in Canada by CP www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
Note to journalists and opinion writers writing about assisted dying in Canada - do yourself & your readers a favour & fact-check yourself by first reading the relevant pieces by @maidincanada.bsky.social Repeating misinformation is irresponsible when facts are available. maidincanada.substack.com
MAiD in Canada | Paul Magennis | Substack
MAiD in Canada delivers accurate, compassionate insights on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). Led by nurses Paul and Kim, we address misinformation, share updates, and explore key issues to inform a...
maidincanada.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Note to journalists and opinion writers writing about assisted dying in Canada - do yourself & your readers a favour & fact-check yourself by first reading the relevant pieces by @maidincanada.bsky.social Repeating misinformation is irresponsible when facts are available. maidincanada.substack.com
Better late than never... the BC government removes morally and legally indefensible "deemed consent" provision of Mental Health Act. Shame on them though waiting until eleventh hour in Charter challenge to do the right thing.
"there is nothing compassionate about the assumption of incapacity." www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Globe editorial: Dignity for the mentally ill cannot be deemed a nuisance
British Columbia, at last, is abandoning the draconian practice of deeming consent to treatment by some mentally ill patients
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Better late than never... the BC government removes morally and legally indefensible "deemed consent" provision of Mental Health Act. Shame on them though waiting until eleventh hour in Charter challenge to do the right thing.
Also worth reading for the accurate description of how the parliamentary committee process is dysfunctional. Serious reform needed if there’s to be any hope of fact-based policy-making in Ottawa.
Another great mythbusting piece by MAiD in Canada - see especially share.google/PRcfdLMAE6hx...
Misinformation at Parliament: What Happened on October 28th
Veterans and people with mental illness deserve better advocacy
share.google
November 30, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Also worth reading for the accurate description of how the parliamentary committee process is dysfunctional. Serious reform needed if there’s to be any hope of fact-based policy-making in Ottawa.