The New York State Catholic Conference represents the state’s bishops on public policy matters. Canada, meanwhile, is considered the world leader in assisted suicide. According to statistics compiled by the federal governments in both Canada and the U.S., more than 70,000 people have died by assisted suicide in Canada since it was legalized nationwide in 2016, and in 2024, 5.1% (1 in 20 people) of deaths were by assisted suicide. Next March, Canada will expand assisted suicide availability to include individuals whose sole underlying condition is mental illness. The Catholic bishops of New York state previously spoke out on MAID in December, when Hochul announced she planned to sign the MAID legislation.