In June 2025, the member of parliament (MP) for Cloverdale—Langley City introduced private member’s Bill C-218: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying) to add the following exclusion:
(2.1) For the purposes of subsection (2), a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition.

Bill C-218 is an important bill in ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable populations from choosing to die because Canada does not have adequate resources to treat mental illness. It is scheduled for second reading in the House of Commons on December 5th.

In the second reading, the MP who put forward the bill outlines the principles of the bill, followed by a debate and a vote. If the vote passes, the bill is referred to a committee that studies it and may hear witnesses and make amendments before referring it back to the House for a third and final reading. Second reading is a crucial step in the process, as if the vote is unsuccessful, it dies there.

Please inform members and request that they urgently contact their MPs to ask them to support Bill C-218. Letters, emails and telephone calls are important.

Many online resources to help with this are available, including the following:
• Contact Us, House of Commons
• “How to Write to Your MP,” Results Canada
• Personal Letter Writing Guide (#173), The Catholic Women’s League of Canada

Please take the time to call or write. If MPs do not hear from Canadians, they cannot represent us in the vote.
Your sister in the League,

Jessie Parkinson
National Chairperson of Social Justice

Dilexi te | "I have loved you"

Pope Leo XIV has released his first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te (“I have loved you”), on the Church’s care for the poor, on the Feast Day of St. John Henry Newman, Oct 9, 2025. Signed on Oct 4, 2025, the document was originally drafted by Pope Francis before his death and later revised and promulgated by Pope Leo XIV. It continues the reflection begun in Pope Francis’ final encyclical, Dilexit nos.

At its heart, Dilexi te invites believers to unite prayer with service, faith with action, and devotion with justice, reminding the Church that authentic love of God always leads to love of neighbour, especially the poor.

• Read Dilexi te 
• Resources for Dilexi te

We are looking for new male and female volunteers for Liturgy of the Word and Rosary prayers in both the Remand Centre and the Calgary Correctional Centre.

• If you are interested in being considered for prison ministry in Calgary, please email for the Volunteer Information form and return the completed form to the same address. 

Prison Ministry Needs Help - North Calgary

We urgently need new volunteers to serve in our prison team at the Calgary Youth Offender Centre (CYOC). The commitment is to serve once a month on Saturday, from 1:30-2:30 pm, soon extending by an hour. The Lord calls us to be His instruments of hope and refuge, and through this ministry, we have a unique opportunity to answer that call. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Catholic Pastoral Centre at  . 

Volunteering Opportunities at Calgary Remand Centre

• A prison for male inmates awaiting sentencing of crimes (ranging from murders, sex offenders, petty crime violators to immigrants awaiting hearings and even persons with un-paid ticket violation). 
• Duties include attending either “weekend afternoon” and/or “weeknight” programs including Rosary Program, Liturgy of the Word reflection and potentially Alpha program.
• Serving the religious needs of Young to Middle-Aged Adults in an ecumenical setting.
• Comfortable serving inmates of all ages, races and first nation background and from faithful to atheists.
• Respect inmates, and cooperate with guards, staff, chaplains, and fellow volunteers.
• Follow Diocesan Volunteer Codes of Conduct and prison rules.
• Keeping of boundary condition in a high security environment.
• Be a pastoral minister, being genuinely empathic, generous, and gracious with a heart to serve Jesus; I was in prison and you visited me. (Mathew 25:36)
• Look past the inmates’ exteriors and help them to find a connection between their personal story and the biblical stories of faith; Sharing of the message of Faith, Hope and Love.
• Commitment of once a month to every two weeks frequency.
• One on one training will be provided.
• Praesidium Course, Police Check and Prison Orientation required.

Volunteering Opportunities at Calgary Correctional Centre

• A prison for sentenced male inmates (less than 2 years; crimes ranging from sex offenders, pesty crime violators to immigrants awaiting hearings and even persons with un-paid ticket violation).    
• Duties include attending either “weekend afternoon” and/or “weeknight” programs including Rosary” Program, Liturgy of the Word reflection and potentially Alpha program.
• Serving the religious needs of Young to Middle-Aged Adults in an ecumenical setting
• Comfortable serving inmates of all ages, races and first nation background and from faithful to atheists.
• Respect inmates, and cooperate with guards, staff, chaplains, and fellow volunteers
• Follow Diocesan Volunteer Codes of Conduct and prison rules
• Keeping of boundary condition in a high security environment
• Be a pastoral minister, being genuinely empathic, generous, and gracious with a heart to serve Jesus; I was in prison and you visited me. (Mathew 25:36)
• Look past their exteriors and help them to find a connection between their personal story and the biblical stories of faith; Sharing of the message of Faith, Hope and Love
• Commitment of once a month to every two weeks frequency
• One on one training will be provided
• Praesidium Course, Police Check and Prison Orientation required

As with any volunteering opportunities, we require a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check (VSPIC), the completion of the Praesidium Academy sexual abuse prevention training, and the agreement to the Code of Pastoral Conduct and Accountability for Volunteers. This information will be provided to you after submitting your application.

~ Diocese of Calgary

7 proven ways to protect against cognitive decline

If you’re nearing old age, or have a family history of dementia, you’ve probably started to wonder, “What can I do to keep my mind healthy as I grow old?”  Of course, there’s only so much anyone can do to protect against cognitive decline. Genetics and other factors outside our control play such a big role. But it turns out there are certain things that do make a difference. Researchers have identified some straightforward strategies to stave off cognitive decline as a person grows older.

And it turns out, keeping church and prayer commitments is an important part of it. 

Here are 7 things you can do now to protect your brain as you age. (You might be pleasantly surprised to find that you’re already doing some of them!)

1. Take a walk
   Regularly going on a walk is one of the most reliable ways to keep your brain sharp as you age. Enjoy a scenic forest path, or simply stroll your neighborhood!
   
   
2. Spend time with your friends
   While you’re walking, invite a friend along. Maintaining strong social networks is linked to slower cognitive decline.
   
   
3. Read a book
   Frequent reading is protective of cognitive function in later life. Consider joining or starting a book club to get the benefits of friendship and reading at the same time!
   
   
4. Spend time with your family
   Living near family as you age imparts 4 to 6 years of extra life expectancy, and it’s good for your grandchildren or great-grandchildren, who have lower rates of mortality and lower rates of disease. This is called the “grandmother effect.”
   
5. Keep holy the Sabbath
   Belonging to a faith-based community and attending services about 4 times a month “is worth between four and 14 extra years of life expectancy.” Who knew going to church was so good for you? 
   
   
6. Talk to God
   Praying regularly is associated with lower risk of mild cognitive impairment.
   
   
7. Eat fish and vegetables
   A Mediterranean diet has been associated with longevity for a long time. Now researchers have found that it’s specifically the prevalence of fish and vegetables in this diet that is so beneficial.

  Source

Sudden injury (such as concussion) or illness could abruptly take away your capacity to make decisions. That can happen to people of any age or stage of life. If it happened to you, would your family know your healthcare wishes? Who would speak on your behalf? Would their decisions reflect your wishes, beliefs and values?

Every adult Albertan (18 years of age or older) should have:

• a personal directive
• an enduring power of attorney agreement
• a will

A personal directive is a legal document that specifies whom you have chosen to make personal, non-financial decisions on your behalf should you lose the mental capacity to make them due to illness or injury. It ensures that the person you choose is legally entitled to make personal decisions for you if you lose capacity. It gives you control over your future personal matters and brings peace of mind to you and your loved ones.

Preparing it prompts you to:

• think about your values and healthcare wishes,
• discuss them with your family,
• choose a trusted person (or persons) to speak on your behalf,
• and document a plan that reflects your goals.

You and your family can feel confident knowing that decisions made on your behalf will reflect your wishes.

The documents below are based on the Personal Directives Act in Alberta and are provided for information and guidance only. They are intended to foster open dialogue about crisis and end-of-life decisions with your spouse, parents, children or other close contacts. They are not a substitute for legal advice. Please consult a lawyer to create a customized Personal Directive, Enduring Power of Attorney agreement, and Will.

• Personal Directive Overview - This is intended for education and guidance only, as we cannot guarantee the completeness, accuracy or reliability of the information in relation to individual needs.
• "Catholic-Focused" Personal Directive Form - This document is an example of what you might develop. It shows the directive’s structure and type of instructions that could be included to reflect your beliefs and values. It is in Word, so you can edit it to suit your own wishes.

Planning for your future is a wise ‘peace of mind’ investment. A Personal Directive, Enduring Power of Attorney agreement, and Will can all help to reduce stress during times of crisis or grief. They can save time and money; and will help to ensure that your wishes are respected and followed.

HELP Not Harm

You are invited to respectfully contact your Member of Parliament (MP), requesting their support of a Private Members' Bill (C-218, The Right to Recover Act - an act to amend the Criminal code -- Medical Assistance in Dying) currently before the Parliament of Canada. 

What is Bill C-218? Bill C-218 amends the Criminal Code to make it illegal to provide Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. It recognizes the importance of Canadians to recover from mental illness and ensures help can be offered, not harm. 

WHY IT MATTERS: 

• Every life is precious. As Catholics, we believe in the sanctity of every human life, from the moment of conception to natural death. 
• A desire to die can be a symptom of illness. Suicidal thoughts are frequently part of mental illness itself, raising serious concerns about whether consent can ever be truly free and informed. 
• Mental illness is often treatable. Many mental health conditions improve over time with proper care, therapy, medication, and support. Recovery remains possible, even after long periods of suffering. 
• Gaps in mental health care remain unresolved. Long wait times, limited access to psychiatrists, and uneven mental health services mean some may seek to end their life due to system failure, not medical necessity. 
• There is an increased risk to vulnerable Canadians. Individuals navigating mental health challenges are more likely to experience poverty, trauma, isolation, disability, or lack of access to care-factors that may pressure individuals toward assisted suicide. 

What is a Private Members' Bill? 

A Private Members' Bill is a piece of legislation introduced in Parliament by a Member of Parliament (MP) or Senator who is not a Cabinet Minister, Parliamentary Secretary, or Speaker. These bills allow individual legislators to propose new laws, or amend existing ones, typically focusing on public policy issues. Bill C-218 has been introduced by the Conservative Party of Canada Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City, British Columbia, Tamara Jansen. 

To pass, this legislation will require support from more than one political party. We believe that many MPs are uncomfortable with the rapid expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada and in particular, the possibility that MAID will be offered for those whose primary underlying condition is mental illness. We are asking MPs to vote their conscience, regardless of party affiliation. 

The difference in passing this Private Members' Bill could be just a few votes in the House of Commons. It is critical that constituents contact their Member of Parliament asking them to support Bill C-218. If the legislation does not pass, as of March 17, 2027, new laws will take effect to allow MAID for those whose sole underlying condition is mental illness. 

TAKE ACTION AT HelpNotHarmCanada.ca TODAY!
The Bill is scheduled for second reading in early April 2026 with a vote on the legislation expected by mid-April 2026. Please visit HelpNotHarmCanada.ca today where you can send an e-mail directly to your local Member of Parliament in less than 3 minutes. If the legislation does not pass, as of March 17, 2027, new laws will take effect to allow MAID for those whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.		Chances are, you know someone suffering from mental illness. In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental illness. It may be a relative, friend or colleague. As Catholics and Canadians, we have a responsibility to offer care, hope and protection NOT death for those close to us and those most vulnerable who are suffering.  Visit HelpNotHarmCanada.ca today and ask your MP to support Bill C-218.

The impact of MAiD on Canadians living with disabilities
- A New Report

Ten years after the Supreme Court’s Carter decision legalized euthanasia (MAiD) in Canada, Cardus has released a report by Alexander Raikin analyzing its impact on Canadians with disabilities.

The findings show a stark contrast between what the Court expected and the Canadian reality: a disproportionate number of MAiD deaths involve people with disabilities, many without adequate supports; nearly half of patients reported feeling like a burden; and loneliness and depression are increasingly cited as reasons for accessing MAiD.

• New Cardus Report: In Contrast to Carter

The Calgary Pro-Life Assn. Board of Directors is pleased to launch the beautiful traveling Respect Life Display Banner Program featuring pictorial pro-life messages. With a plan to share high-quality display banners specifically designed to educate, inspire and inform about respect for life from conception until natural death, the organization has a continued mission to build a culture of life. Calgary Pro-Life Assn. focuses on the educational aspects of protecting and promoting respect for every human life from conception, through childhood, through adolescence, and through adulthood and old age, until death. Our programs encourage students in grade school to respect themselves, their families, teachers, elders, the community, and their classmates. Now, we have an opportunity to share positive, life-affirming messages with the greater community through large, but silent, display banners that show and tell about what it really means to be pro-life in our time. Our photos can safely be shown to any person of any age to celebrate the sanctity of each unique human life from the beginning until natural death.

A number Pro-life display banners are now available to be used for pro-life awareness and education in your school, or church during special events, sacramental preparation, at pro-life weekend services, etc.

To receive a Respect Life Display Banner package, and to learn more about the project, please email or call (403) 243-0691 today.

Together with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Bishop McGrattan is urging the faithful to continue to oppose the expansion of MAiD in Canada. The CCCB has just issued an Open Letter to the Government of Canada and a Message to the Catholic Faithful on May 9 re: Permitting Persons Living with Mental Illness to Access Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide. We ask you to share the Bishop's message and provide your parishioners with access to the CCCB letters below.

• Download Bishop McGrattan's message (PNG) 
• CCCB - Message to the Catholic Faithful on Permitting Persons Living with Mental Illness to Access Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide 
• CCCB - Open Letter to the Government of Canada on Permitting Persons Living with Mental Illness to Access Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) just made a big announcement.

It has dropped plans to force doctors and other healthcare workers to participate in medically and morally problematic procedures such as abortion, assisted suicide (MAiD), and “gender-affirming” interventions by requiring them to make an “effective referral.”

This is a big win for all Alberta doctors and healthcare workers.

And, this win was made possible because so many of you took the time to contact the CPSA letting them know why this proposed policy update was a bad idea. It was also great to see so many excellent groups coming together to oppose this terrible proposal. When we work on a common goal, we achieve great things!

Background

Background

 The Alberta Committee for Conscience Protection is calling on us to write to the College of Physicians and Surgeons Alberta (CPSA) with comments on their Consultation on the current Standard of Practice on Conscientious Objection. This consultation is open until January 10, 2024.

The Conscientious Objection standard was last reviewed in 2016. Amendments to this standard are intended to better outline expectations for regulated members in navigating ethical dilemmas relating to personal beliefs and patient beliefs. The addition of a preamble, glossary and directions provide more context around when and how regulated members can decline to provide treatment and what must be provided for the patient to ensure they continue to receive high quality care.

What’s changed?

• Addition of a preamble and glossary to provide context for the standard and more detailed definitions;
• Inclusion of clarifying language to better communicate the balance between a regulated members’ right to limit health service based on reasons of conscience, cultural belief or religion and patients’ rights to timely access to safe, high-quality care;
• Section added to clearly break down permitted and prohibited actions with a focus on reducing risk of harm and maintenance of respect for patient;
• Expansion of the related standards of practice and addition of companion resources to better support regulated members.

One of the concerns expressed by the Alberta Committee for Conscience Protection is around "effective referral". The glossary of the Model Practice Standard proposed by Health Canada defines:

Effective referral: taking positive action to ensure the person requesting MAID is connected in a timely manner to a non-objecting, available, and accessible physician or nurse practitioner, other health-care professional, or [name of agency, program, office responsible for patient navigation] that provides the health service (eligibility assessments for, and provision of, MAID) or connects the person directly with a health-care professional who does. ‘Timely manner’ means such that the person will not experience an adverse clinical outcome or prolonged suffering due to a delay in making the connection. [Note to users: delete this definition if the regulatory authority uses wording of effective transfer of care instead of effective referral]

Effective transfer of care: a transfer made by one physician or nurse practitioner in good faith to another physician or nurse practitioner who is available to accept the transfer, accessible to the person requesting MAID, and willing to provide MAID to that person if the eligibility criteria are met. [Note to users: delete this definition if the regulatory authority uses the wording of effective referral instead of effective transfer of care]

For further information, please read the points below and the drafts at https://cpsa.ca/physicians/standards-of-practice/consultation/consultation-028/028-conscientiousobjection (you can also read comments from other Albertans there and add your own). Feedback may be provided via survey, email or the comment form on each page.

Alberta Committee for Conscience Protection

Talking Points on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)
Draft Standard of Practice on Conscientious Objection Consultation 028

As many of you are aware, the CPSA has invited comments on their Consultation on the current Standard of Practice on Conscientious Objection. This consultation is open to CPSA members, partner organizations, other healthcare professionals and Albertans until January 10, 2024. We are hoping that we can send a clear message to the CPSA Council that the introduction of the term “effective referral” that was added to the draft policy is not acceptable to many physicians and concerned members of the public. This new term is borrowed from the Model Practice Standard proposed by Health Canada, and in Alberta we already have a solid framework for patients to access services they are looking for without requiring an “effective referral.”

We propose the following revisions to the draft Standard of Practice:

• Section 1.f. could be revised as “Proactively maintain a non-judgmental approach and be aware of resources to provide for frequently requested services they are unwilling to provide.”
• Section 2.c. should be removed due to lack of clarity.  
  • If a patient were to experience pain while waiting for MAID, this could be claimed an adverse clinical outcome. Although the procedure sought out should not be impeded as in 2c, there are a lot of subjective possibilities that could emerge from so-called "exposures" from "delayed effective referral."
  • Specifically, “adverse clinical outcomes” and “delayed” are not objectively defined and are open to wide subjective interpretation. 
  • "Delayed"  is not clearly defined either and in many ways the seeking of care is dependent on what the patient decides to do after visiting a provider.
  • Many psychiatrists have warned that it will be extremely difficult for physicians to discern which patients are making a fully informed, consensual decision to pursue MAID and which are not. 

Other talking points

• It needs to be clearly stated, whether in this policy or for the understanding of the draft standard committee, that a member who declines to provide a service (e.g. MAID) or a referral for the same (while still providing resources) is doing so because they believe it is in the best interest of the patients.  Their care of the patient compels them down this path. A sober second thought on the part of a provider who wants to provide a variety of different perspectives may allow a patient to see their concerns from a new or different angle and can be a source of support for that patient.
  • Many from the disability community have called for safe spaces where they know the practitioner sees their life as worth living and wouldn’t agree to end their lives when they are at a low point.
  • Since "effective referral" has been introduced in other provinces, many providers have left, retired early, or sought registration in Alberta because of our more reasonable conscience objection standard. Adopting this language from other provinces potentially exposes our system to further loss of providers who would be frustrated with the addition of this wording.
  • It should be emphasized that the Supreme Court gave its assurance that nothing in its original ruling on the constitutionality of MAID “…would compel physicians to provide assistance in dying.” Participation through an effective referral would directly involve physicians in MAID to which many of us are opposed.
  • The government and College does not want to micro-manage the doctor-patient relationship but does expect non-judgmental professionalism adhering to obligations
  • Based on opinion polling, many Canadians are concerned about compelling physicians to do something they are not comfortable with, e.g. "54 percent of Canadians give “quite a lot” or a “great deal” of weight to the concern that the confidence of patients in doctors could be compromised, given that patients look to doctors “to heal, comfort, and fight for them.” Sixty-three percent of visible minorities share this concern.
  • This is not about competing rights but about mutual freedoms.  It is not about limiting access but about redirection to different resources.  In reality, patients' and physicians' rights are not opposed. The patient and physician work together as a team and navigate medical decisions in a shared decision making framework.  
  • Conscience is not an expression of a physician’s personal preference, it is a judgment based on what the physician feels is in the patient’s best interest.  Patients and physicians disagree on a regular basis on a large number of issues, and these usually do not come to the point of conflict; they are usually resolved in professional and friendly ways. 
  • Physicians are not solely responsible for ensuring access to medical assistance in dying.  CMAJ February 20, 2018 190 (7) E181; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.180153
    • "The responsibility to ensure access to MAID does not rest with an individual physician, but with society. Recognizing this, most provinces have developed access programs for MAID... When it comes to MAID, balancing the rights of physicians and patients is not an easy task, but both deserve protection."While this standard emphasizes the right of a physician, it also needs to consider the fact that many patients want providers whose values fit with theirs, and a large group of patients want to be served by providers who decline to offer certain procedures like MAID. Finding the right physician fit requires a diverse medical system with a variety of different providers with different opinions.

The above talking points are for reflection and to help formulate comments in your own words, using resources and references that you are familiar with. Please complete the online form here (https://cpsa.ca/physicians/standards-of-practice/consultation/consultation-028/028-conscientiousobjection/), or by email on the same page.

– Alberta Committee for Conscience Protection

The Diocese has a video series on the Catholic Response to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), presenting Bishop William McGrattan, Dr. Eric Wasylenko and Fr. Cristino Bouvette. Both Bishop McGrattan and Dr Wasylenko presented on this subject at our 2018 Diocesan CWL Convention.

Moral Theology of Catholic Decision Making

The legalization of Euthanasia in Canada is of concern to all Catholics, not only those employed in the medical profession. As euthanasia (often termed Medical Assistance in Dying or MAID) involves the intentional taking of a person’s life, it presents a challenge for all who are committed to upholding the dignity of life and protecting the most vulnerable in our society.  In a thoughtful and considered presentation which is of significance to all who are committed to living the Gospel message faithfully, Bishop William McGrattan of the Diocese of Calgary, Alberta, identifies the many spiritual concerns which flow from the legalization of euthanasia – including many you may not have previously considered.

Read more ...

During the past months we have been given the blessing of time to contemplate what is important in our lives and in our society.  Many of us are prioritizing the importance of a health care system that cultivates a culture of care and love for people at all life stages..

This is an opportune time to use our letter-writing energy to urge our government to seriously hear our concerns about two issues:  (1)  the providing of palliative care for all Canadians who choose this option near the end of their lives; and (2) the suggested removal of safeguards to Bill C-7.

National President Anne Marie Gorman's letter to the Prime Minister is posted on the National website "Letters" page. Access it at: https://cwl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20200304-Gorman-to-Trudeau-re.-Bill-C7.pdf

We encourage everyone to contact government leaders on the following two concerns. 

1. Palliative Care: In 2017 the Federal Government put forward the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada.   The government promised to invest $3 billion into national home care services including palliative care. Has funding been made?   How can Canadians make informed decisions about their end of life treatment when quality palliative care is readily available to only 15% of Canadians (2018 Health Canada Report)? On May 17, 2020 Zi-Ann Lum published “Will the Pandemic Finally Make Us Talk About Palliative Care?” in the Huffington Post, Canadian Edition.  I encourage you to read it if you want more information.
   
   
2. Bill C-7, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD):  There are concerns about removing some of the safeguards placed in the existing legislation.  First, the government is proposing to remove the mandatory 10 day waiting period before a patient can receive medically assisted death stating that the waiting period may unnecessarily prolong suffering.  Second, the government is proposing to remove the need for two witnesses. Both safeguards exist so that patients can make an informed decision about their end of life care without pressure and with appropriate verification.   Presently the Bill has undergone two readings.  There is still time to write letters and email the government to express our concerns about the removal of these safeguards.

Sample letters to the Prime Minister, Justice Minister, Health Minister and Member of Parliament are posted under Legislation Tips and Tools.  Adjust them as you wish.  See the Forms and Resources page for our letter writing guide and contact information for MPs and MLAs.

Through faith, we have a moral compass that guides our actions daily to help and protect the vulnerable in our society.  May our Lady of Good Counsel guide you as you work for God and Canada.

St. Mary's Council Brooks provided Comfort Care Bags for people in need at the local nursing homes mid-March. Members sewed beautiful bags and filled them with Body Wash, Shampoo, Detangle Combs, Teeth Cleaner, etc. 

Find saint activities and prayers appropriate for children which highlight anti-racism, diversity, discrimination and social injustices. Download here.