Bill C-404 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act

This bill was last introduced in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session, which ended in September 2019.

Sponsor

Anthony Housefather  Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of May 29, 2018
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Assisted Human Reproduction Act to decriminalize payment for sperm or ovum donation and for surrogacy. It specifies that, subject to section 9, a sperm or ovum donor must be at least 18 years of age, must have the capacity to consent to the donation and must not be coerced into donating. It also specifies that a surrogate mother must be at least 21 years of age, must have the capacity to consent to becoming a surrogate mother and must not be coerced into becoming a surrogate mother.
The enactment also amends the Act to allow for the purchase of other human reproductive material.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Canadian Infertility Awareness WeekStatements By Members

April 12th, 2019 / 10:55 a.m.
See context

Liberal

Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC

Mr. Speaker, everyone knows someone who has struggled with fertility issues, yet speaking about infertility is still quite taboo in our society. Starting later this month, Canadians will have an opportunity to highlight the need to break the stigma and share their stories with others during Canadian Infertility Awareness Week.

I thank Fertility Matters, the national organization that empowers Canadians to help reach their reproductive health goals, for their leadership and bringing awareness to this important issue.

As the sponsor of Bill C-404, which seeks to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act in order to help more Canadians have their own child, I think that we need to pay more attention to this discussion.

I ask my colleagues to join me in encouraging all Canadians who have experienced difficulty building their families to share their stories and help remove the stigma surrounding their struggles.

Assisted Human Reproduction ActRoutine Proceedings

May 29th, 2018 / 10:15 a.m.
See context

Liberal

Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-404, an act to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.

Mr. Speaker, today on the Hill we are joined by Leia Swanberg and a group of intended parents, donors, surrogates, doctors, attorneys, and people involved in the fertility industry across Canada. It is an honour to present before them a bill to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.

In 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down many provisions of the act, and since then it has become untenable. It is an act that does not allow the federal government to work, and we need to step out of the way and let provinces properly regulate in this area. We also need to make sure to protect the vulnerable.

The bill I am putting forward would decriminalize payment for donors and surrogates, but it would remain illegal to assist someone to donate or be a surrogate if they are underage, if they lack capacity to consent, or if they are being coerced.

I look forward to working with members on all sides of this House to advance the bill forward, and to make sure that our laws in Canada related to assisted human reproduction are from 2018 and not from 1988.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)