When you're ready to make a formal request for medical assistance in dying (MAID), you’ll need to arrange for an Independent Witness to sign your written request. Unless your primary care provider is active in your request, you’ll also need to connect with a MAID care coordination team in your province or territory.
Independent Witness Requirements
A formal written request for MAID must be signed in the presence of one Independent Witness. To qualify, a witness must be at least 18 years old, have the capacity to understand what it means to request MAID, and not be in a position to benefit financially or materially from the person's death. They cannot be an owner or operator of a care facility where the person lives, or an unpaid provider of health or personal care to the person.
If you need help finding an Independent Witness, Dying With Dignity Canada offers a volunteer program that can connect you with someone in your area. Visit Dying With Dignity Canada’s website to submit a request.
MAID Care Coordination Teams
In Canada, the process for requesting medical assistance in dying (MAID) varies by province and territory. Below you can find contact information for the MAID care coordination teams closest to you. They can explain the MAID process in your region, help you access the correct written request form, and connect you with local support and resources.
Choose your province or territory from the options below.
Alberta
Request for medical assistance in dying form in Alberta
Alberta Health Services MAID team
Email: MAID.careteam@ahs.ca
Website: Patients and Family Members - Medical Assistance in Dying
Phone: 811 (AHS Health Link)
British Columbia
Request for medical assistance in dying in British Columbia
Fraser Health
Email: mccc@fraserhealth.ca
Phone: 604-587-7878
Fraser Health website: Medical assistance in dying
Interior Health
Email: MAiD@interiorhealth.ca
250-870-4669 (local Kelowna number)
1-877-442-2001 (toll-free)
Interior Health website: Medical assistance in dying
Island Health (Vancouver Island Health Authority)
Email: maid@viha.ca
250-727-4382 (local Victoria number)
1-877-370-8699 (toll-free)
Island Health website: Medical assistance in dying
Northern Health
Email: maid@northernhealth.ca
250-645-6417 (local Prince George number)
Northern Health Website: Medical assistance in dying
Vancouver Coastal Health
Email: assisteddying@vch.ca
1-844-550-5556 (toll-free)
Vancouver Coastal Health website: Medical assistance in dying
Manitoba
Medical assistance in dying requests in Manitoba
Manitoba Provincial Medical Assistance in Dying Clinical Team
204-926-1380 (local Winnipeg number)
Toll free: 1-844-891-1825
Shared Health Manitoba website: Medical assistance in dying
New Brunswick
Medical assistance in dying requests in New Brunswick
Horizon Health Network
Request for medical assistance in dying form
email: MAID@HorizonNB.ca
1-833-883-6243 (toll-free)
Horizon Health Network website: Medical assistance in dying
Vitalité Health Network
Request for medical assistance in dying form
Email: info@vitalitenb.ca
506-544-2133 (local number)
Toll free: 1-888-472-2220 (toll-free)
Vitalité Health Network website: Medical assistance in dying
Newfoundland & Labrador
Medical assistance in dying requests in Newfoundland and Labrador
Regional Medical Director for Eastern
Dr. Aaron McKim
Email: aaron.mckim@easternhealth.ca
Phone: 709-729-3103 (local)
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador website: Forms and Applications
Labrador-Grenfell Health
Email: maid@lghealth.ca
Phone: 709-897-2350
Western Health
Email: dennisrashleigh@westernhealth.nl.ca
Phone: 709-637-5000 ext. 5168
Central Health
Email: maid@centralhealth.nl.ca
Phone: 709-533-2374 or 709-292-2151
Eastern Health
Phone: 709-777-2250
Toll free: 1-833-777-2250
Northwest Territories
Request for medical assistance in dying form in Northwest Territories
NWT Central Coordinating Services
Phone: 855-846-9601
Toll free: 867-767-9050 x 49008
Available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Northwest Territories Health and Social Services website: Medical assistance in dying
Nova Scotia
Request for medical assistance in dying form in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Health Authority
Email: maid@nshealth.ca
Phone: 902-491-5892 (local Halifax number)
Website: Medical assistance in dying
Nunavut
Medical assistance in dying requests in Nunavut
Nunavut Department of Health
Email: Maid.Info@gov.nu.ca
Phone: 867-975-5700 (general inquiries)
Ontario
Request for medical assistance in dying form in Ontario
Phone: 1-866-286-4023 (toll-free)
TTY: 1-844-953-3350
Information services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Referral services available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Services in English and French, but service in other languages can be arranged.
Government of Ontario website: Medical assistance in dying and end‑of‑life decisions
Prince Edward Island
Request for medical assistance in dying form in Prince Edward Island
Provincial Specialty and Virtual Care Clinic
902-288-1095
Health PEI website: Medical assistance in dying
Quebec
Request for medical assistance in dying form in Quebec
Quebec City region: 418-644-4545
Montreal region: 514-644-4545
Rest of Quebec: 877-644-4545 (toll-free)
Government of Quebec website: Family and support for individuals
Association Quebecoise pour le Droit de Mourir dans la Dignite (AQDMD)
Quebec Association for the Right to Die with Dignity
Email: info@aqdmd.org
514-341-4017
Saskatchewan
Medical assistance in dying requests in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Health Authority
Toll free: 1-833-473-6243
Website: Accessing MAID in Saskatchewan
The provincial medical assistance in dying program operates Monday-Friday 8:00 – 4:30 p.m. We are closed on weekends and statutory holidays.
Yukon
Request for medical assistance in dying form in Yukon
Palliative Care Resource Team
Phone: 867-667-9380
Email: palliativecare@yukon.ca
Yukon Health and Social Services website: Find information about medical assistance in dying