Per-Capita Rates (2024)
MAID Deaths per 100,000 Population by Province
Health Canada's annual reports provide provincial breakdowns of MAID deaths. When adjusted for population, significant disparities emerge. Quebec consistently leads in per-capita MAID administration, followed by British Columbia. The prairie provinces and Atlantic Canada have lower rates.
Rates calculated from Health Canada MAID death counts divided by Statistics Canada population estimates. Territories excluded due to small sample sizes.
Analysis
What the Provincial Data Reveals
Quebec: 2x the National Average
Quebec consistently leads all provinces in per-capita MAID administration. Quebec was the first province to legalize assisted dying (2014, before the federal framework) and has the most established institutional infrastructure for MAID delivery. Quebec's Act Respecting End-of-Life Care operates alongside the federal Criminal Code framework, creating a dual regulatory environment with broader eligibility criteria in practice.
British Columbia: Second Highest and Climbing
BC's MAID rate has grown faster than any other province year-over-year. BC Health authorities have been proactive in integrating MAID into hospital and hospice care pathways. The province has the second-highest proportion of Track 2 (non-terminal) MAID deaths, suggesting broader institutional adoption of expanded eligibility criteria.
Prairie Provinces: Below Average but Rising
Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have below-average MAID rates but are trending upward. Rural access barriers and cultural attitudes account for some of the gap. As MAID delivery infrastructure expands into rural health networks, prairie rates are expected to converge toward the national average over the next 3-5 years.
Atlantic Canada: Lowest Rates, Oldest Populations
The Atlantic provinces have the lowest MAID rates despite having Canada's oldest populations (highest median age). This suggests that MAID uptake is driven more by institutional infrastructure and cultural acceptance than by demographic need. PEI's rate is less than one-quarter of Quebec's — a 4.5x difference between provinces under the same federal law.
Growth Trajectory
Year-Over-Year Provincial Growth
| Province | 2019 | 2022 | 2024 | Growth (5yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | 1,632 | 4,156 | 5,431 | +233% |
| Ontario | 1,789 | 4,261 | 5,872 | +228% |
| British Columbia | 922 | 2,421 | 2,739 | +197% |
| Alberta | 527 | 1,036 | 1,456 | +176% |
| All Other | 761 | 1,367 | 1,001 | +32% |
| CANADA | 5,631 | 13,241 | 16,499 | +193% |
Source: Health Canada Annual Reports on MAID (1st-6th editions). 2024 from Sixth Annual Report.