Reproductive Rights

When discussing abortion rights in Canada, many Americans are surprised when I tell them that Canada has no laws about adults’ reproductive rights.

No criminalization of vasectomy.

No criminalization of tubal ligation.

No criminalization of oral contraceptives or LARC (such as IUD.)

No criminalization of “morning after” pills.

No criminalization of abortion.

These are health care decisions.

In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in R. v. Morgentaler, [1988] 1 SCR 30, that any law that restricted a woman’s right to life, liberty, and security of person (section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982, SC 1982, c. 11) was unconstitutional.

There is a law in the province of British Columbia regarding abortion services, not to restrict reproductive rights, but to protect them.

In BC, the Access to Abortion Services Act, SBC 1995, c. 35 came into force. It creates ‘access zones’ by limiting demonstrations outside abortion clinics, doctor’s office and doctor’s homes.

Abortion rights in Canada