Alberta's justice minister has been directed to introduce new legislation on Medical Assistance in Dying, or MAID, that would give the government greater control and oversight of the program.

A new mandate letter to Mickey Amery from Premier Danielle Smith said the legislation should introduce "appropriate safeguards" and prohibit mental illness from being a sole eligibility factor.

The letter doesn't provide detail on what safeguards the province is looking to implement or what kind of oversight it wants to have. Amery's office didn't immediately respond to questions Thursday.

Mental illness has never been an approved sole eligibility factor for MAID, though the federal government has considered permitting it.

Ottawa planned to allow it starting in 2023, but then delayed it for furthe

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