On June 2, several Georgian– and Russian-language Facebook accounts (1, 2, 3, 4) shared information alleging that Canada is initiating euthanasia for children. The posts included a screenshot from the conspiratorial outlet The People’s Voice. The image shows Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, alongside the following quote: “We must euthanize our kids.”
Facebook users claim that Canada is beginning to euthanize children who have been victims of rape or have been vaccine-injured.
The claim that Canada is starting euthanasia for children who have been raped or harmed by vaccines is false. In Canada, medical assistance in dying (MAID) is legal only for individuals aged 18 or older, but to receive it, an individual must have incurable health conditions causing intolerable suffering. The quote attributed to the Canadian Prime Minister about initiating child euthanasia is fabricated. The circulating information relies on a conspiratorial media outlet known for spreading disinformation and conspiracy theories about medical topics.
According to Canadian law, individuals may receive medical assistance in dying (MAID). This procedure is legal in Canada for patients over 18 years of age. However, to qualify for this, patients must meet strict criteria.
The most recent legislative update on these criteria was passed by Canada’s Parliament in 2021. To be eligible, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Be 18 years of age or older and have decision-making capacity;
- Be eligible for publicly funded health care services;
- Make a voluntary request that is not the result of external pressure;
- Give informed consent to receive MAID, that the person has consented to receiving MAID after they have received all information needed to make this decision;
- Have a serious and incurable illness, disease, or disability (excluding mental illness);
- Be in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability;
- Have enduring and intolerable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be alleviated under conditions the person considers acceptable.
It’s important to note that individuals with only mental health conditions do not qualify for the procedure. In fact, Canada reviewed this law again in 2024 and extended the current restriction on mental health grounds until March 17, 2027.
The People’s Voice article also includes a video claiming that children in Canada are requesting euthanasia themselves, prompting the Canadian Parliament to seek ways to allow minors to receive MAID without parental consent. It is worth noting that in April 2021, the Canadian legislature did discuss the issue of the eligibility of mature minors for MAID, but no legislative changes have been approved in this regard.
The circulated disinformation about euthanasia includes a quote falsely attributed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, supposedly stating that child euthanasia should begin. The quote is fabricated. No identical or similar statement of the Prime Minister on this topic has been found in any open, credible source.
The original source of the disinformation, The People’s Voice, is known for publishing conspiracy theories. In 2024, this same outlet spread false claims that Canada was offering euthanasia to people harmed by vaccines, attributing the initiative to then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Manipulative narratives about euthanasia have also been spread concerning EU countries. Myth Detector has previously reported on this topic.
About the Source:
The People’s Voice regularly publishes conspiratorial content and false information. The outlet was established in 2014 under the name YourNewsWire and rebranded in 2017 as NewsPunch. NewsPunch published multiple pieces of fake news. Later it changed its name again to The People’s Voice. According to Poynter.org, as early as 2018, around 80 fake stories had been identified on the site. Myth Detector has fact-checked numerous pieces of disinformation published by this outlet.
The Facebook account Maia Tvaltvadze regularly spreads disinformation and conspiracy theories. Myth Detector has repeatedly fact-checked false claims shared by Tvaltvadze in the past.
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