Abortion Law in Canada
On May 14, 1969, Canada’s abortion law was liberalized with the passage of Pierre Trudeau’s Omnibus Bill C-251. There was a general prohibition of abortion except in certain circumstances defined in the law. The new law placed no restrictions on what point in the pregnancy an induced abortion could be performed.
On January 28, 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada’s only abortion law. Since that ruling, abortion is available on-demand through all nine months of pregnancy up to the moment of delivery for any reason or no reason.
The Canadian Criminal Code of Canada is based on antiquated law dating from 1953.
It states:
A child becomes a human being within the meaning of this Act when it has completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother, whether or not
a) it has breathed;
b) it has independent circulation; or
c) the navel string is severed.
Below are the results of legal abortion in Canada
- Over 3 million unborn Canadian children have lost their lives to abortion since May 14, 1969*
- Abortion is available throughout all nine months of pregnancy ? 300 abortions occur every day in Canada*
- 1 in 3 women undergoing abortion have already had one or more*
- 20% of abortions are performed on girls between 10 and 19 years of age*
- Post-abortive women are at greater risk of psychiatric problems during the 3-month period following the abortion**
*Statistics Canada ** College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario