This is a summary of findings of a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Dying With Dignity Canada in September 2024 regarding support for medical assistance in dying in British Columbia.

A representative sample of n=800 residents 18 years of age and older living in the province of British Columbia has been surveyed online. Sampling quotas and weighting were designed to match the latest Statistics Canada Census figures (2021).

Results

The poll indicates that 86% of British Columbians continue to support the original Supreme Court of Canada decision (Carter v. Canada) to recognize medical assistance in dying (MAID) as a constitutionally protected right. 

As the province of Quebec prepares to allow advance requests for MAID for their residents starting October 30, 2024, the poll shows 85% support for a Federal amendment to the Criminal Code to decriminalize actions of a clinician performing MAID under a written advance request. An advance request for MAID would allow an individual to describe, in writing, a future state in which they would like to access MAID. Seventy-eight per cent also believe it is important for the B.C. government to immediately amend the Health Care (Consent) & Care Facility (Admission) Act to add an advance request option for an assisted death. 

Sixty-eight per cent, including 74% of Roman Catholics, believe that publicly funded health care facilities should be required to provide the full range of health care services, including MAID, if they have the proper equipment and staff to do so. Seventy-nine per cent also believe that the province of B.C. should renegotiate the thirty-year-old Denominational Health Association (DHA) Master Agreement which allows publicly funded, faith-based facilities an exemption from providing certain lawful medical services, such as MAID. 

Data and further breakdown of poll results can be found here.