In the spirit of collaboration, I want to thank you all for your courageous testimony and for being here. Again, I thank Senator Boyer, who I know is still in the room, and also Mr. Schmale for championing this incredibly important issue.
Again, as parliamentarians, we have to ask the difficult questions, and we have to make sure we are fully considering the benefits and the potential unintended consequences of introducing legislation, particularly when it involves the Criminal Code.
I want to again bring us back to some themes similar to those raised in Mr. Schmale's questions to you about how we ensure that the right balance is struck in this legislation, should it pass. In particular, I want to point out, again, the briefs that we've received from some medical groups, including the SOGC, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists—which, as you know, Dr. Wilson, is a highly respected organization—and the Federation of Medical Women. Both of them are at pains to point out how much they support the spirit and the intent of this bill “to ensure that coerced sterilization...is finally stopped”, as the SOGC says, “and that those who perpetuate these assaults against women are held to account.” I think we're all clear on the intent, but the SOGC brief in particular does point out “significant concerns about unintended consequences [that the SOGC believes] this bill could have on women’s access to reproductive care”. They also point out that a “legislative instrument” may not be the right tool for the problem that exists.
I'd like Dr. Burnell and Dr. Wilson in particular—and any others we might have time for—to just comment on how we can address these concerns that are coming from the medical groups. What do you recommend, what do you advise, in how we can meet those concerns?
Dr. Burnell, perhaps you can start.