Home / Health / Manitoba's Steady MAID Numbers Defy National Trend
Manitoba's Steady MAID Numbers Defy National Trend
17 Nov
Summary
- Manitoba sees decline in medically assisted deaths since 2021 peak
- National MAID growth slowed to 16% in 2023 after 31% average annual rise
- Rural access barriers limit MAID uptake in Manitoba
As of November 2025, provinces across Canada are seeing a slowdown in the number of people accessing medical assistance in dying (MAID). However, Manitoba's MAID numbers have remained "fairly flat" in recent years, potentially foreshadowing the direction the rest of the country is headed.
The number of Canadians receiving a medically assisted death has continued to climb each year since it was legalized in 2016, with over 15,000 getting MAID in 2023. But the rate of growth slowed to about 16% that year, after an average annual growth of 31% between 2019 and 2022.
Unlike other provinces, Manitoba has seen a decline in the number of people receiving assisted deaths since a high point of 245 in 2021. Last year, 188 people in Manitoba chose to have MAID, and as of September 2025, 154 Manitobans had a medically assisted death.
Experts say Manitoba's relatively small number of MAID deaths and the province's higher rural population compared to the national average could be contributing factors to the slower growth. Access to MAID assessors and providers remains a challenge, particularly in smaller communities.
The Manitoba government is investing in palliative care and other end-of-life support to ensure patients and families have meaningful options when making these difficult decisions.
