6 Things You Need to Know about Abortion in Canada
The recent outrage over the Canada Summer Jobs grant program sparked the conversation again on the issue of abortion. As one might expect, emotions run high and sharp words of condemnation are exchanged. In times like these, it’s important to keep informed, so here are 6 things that you need to know about abortion in Canada.
- Abortion claims the lives of about 100,000 pre-born children every year in Canada. If that number doesn’t strike you, perhaps a visual representation might help. 100,000 children per year translates to roughly 274 children per day. That means, while you were sleeping last night, more than 91 pre-born children lost their lives through abortion.
- Most abortions are done for reasons of convenience. According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research company that started out as the research arm of Planned Parenthood, the vast majority of abortions are done for socioeconomic reasons and less than 2% due to rape or incest. Though these stats reflect the US population, I see no reason to think things are all that different in Canada.
- Canada has no laws on abortion. It is surprising how few Canadians are aware of this. All laws around abortion were struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada in the R v Morgentaler decision in 1988. Canada is the only Western liberal democracy with no laws on abortion. There are only three other countries with no abortion laws: China, Vietnam, and North Korea. We are not in keeping with international standards on abortion. Our abortion laws (or lack thereof) are more extreme than those of Europe in general.
- Under the Canadian law, a pre-born child is not recognized as a person. In Canada, you are not recognized as a legal entity until you make the full exit from the birth canal. (Even partial exit won’t do, which leaves doors wide open for partial-birth abortion (read “infanticide”).) This creates absurdities, as a 24-week-old premature baby is entitled to the protection of the law, whereas a 39-week-old full-term baby in utero is entitled to no legal protection whatsoever. Of course, it has to be emphasized that legality is not a precondition to human rights. There was a time when women weren’t considered persons under Canadian law. Does that mean it was morally right for men to treat women like properties? Clearly not. All that the law did was to recognize the inherent human value in women. The same is true of the pre-born.
- The Supreme Court of Canada did not grant women a charter right to abortion. Before Canada became a country in 1867, the English law recognized the pre-born and provided full protection when the mother felt the pre-born’s movement for the first time. In 1869, Canada created its own criminal code which prohibited the procurement of abortion. In 1969, under the leadership of Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, abortion was legalized in Canada for the first time. A mother was able to get abortion done for medical reasons if she could demonstrate her need to three doctors. In R v Morgentaler in 1988, however, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down this requirement, leaving no laws regulating abortion in Canada. The Supreme Court left it up to the Parliament to then create laws regulating abortion. As The Guardian reports, “[n]one of the seven judges held that there was a constitutional right to abortion on demand. All of the judges acknowledged the state has a legitimate interest in protecting the unborn.” In 1991, an attempt was made and a bill passed through the House of Commons, only to die in the Senate. Since then, the Canadian Parliament has failed to introduce and pass any restrictions on abortion. All this goes to show that Canada has a lack of law around abortion, not that Canada positively granted a charter right to abortion on demand.
- All taxpaying Canadians have blood on their hands. In Canada, abortion is free. Of course, the money has to come from somewhere, and this money is coming from our taxes. Also, shortly after the Trump Administration signed the Mexico City Policy back in, blocking US federal taxpayer dollars from going to overseas organizations that promote or provide abortion, Justin Trudeau announced that the Liberal government in Canada would roll out $650 million over the course of three years “supporting the right of women to get safe and legal abortions.” In British Columbia, as of January 15, 2018, Mifegymiso (aka RU-486), an abortifacient drug, will be available for free (read “funded by taxpayer dollars”). BC is one of the six provinces to do so.
So, what, aside from reading depressing facts, can you do? Here are a few suggestions:
- Pray. For Christians, this is an obvious point. Yet, it’s so easy to become discouraged when we see this court ruling or that failed pro-life legislation. Keep your eyes not on the government. Keep your eyes on God who is bigger than the government.
- Educate yourself in pro-life apologetics. There are some great books to read and videos to watch. I highly recommend The Case for Life by Scott Klusendorf and Love Unleashes Life by Stephanie Gray. To learn conversational tactics in general, I recommend Greg Koukl’s book, Tactics. Also, you can look up names like Josh Brahm, Live Action, and Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform.
- Tap into resources provided by pro-life organizations like weneedalaw.ca. They will help you write a letter to the editor, contact local representatives, organize a flag display, etc.
- Consider following Right Now. Right Now is a non-partisan political organization that seeks to elect pro-life MPs. The implications of that in a country with no abortion laws is obvious.
Somehow, we have turned what was meant to be the safest place for the pre-born into the most dangerous. In the 10 minutes it took for you to read this article, 2 more children were killed, and we will go to sleep tonight knowing another 91 will be killed. Something must be done, and someone must do it.
Let it start with you and me.
And let it start now.
Steve Kim – Apologetics Canada
Thank you Northview for posting this. I wish every church did.
Mind your own damn business, keep your nose out of my panties..you egotistical maniacs.
Do you have a problem with facts or just a problem with people being moral?
I have a problem with people pretending to be moral and resorting to bogus „facts“ like some of these.
Sara, How sad that you have no regard for the sanctity of life.
This is the same group of people that believe morality is tied to a fictional garbage of a book written by humans. Grow some brain cells mindless automatons
Oh my…I understand your response to this article……..
Christians, most Christians anyway, are not against or trying to stop anyone from making their own decisions, we are ‘only’ concerned about the little ‘Baby’s’ life, and ‘right’ to life. You know, even before Roe vs. Wade happened, they had NO idea or refused to believe when LIFE actually began or what the actual Life that was conceived looked like from the very beginning. They had NO WAY of knowing that this little LIFE, this little HUMAN BEING was in fact ALIVE until they were actually able to look inside by ULTRA SOUND equipment which came later. When they saw how amazing it is to watch this little HUMAN BEING, (a carbon copy of the parents) growing they were amazed….SOME stopped agreeing with the practice of Abortion and a lot of them who were performing this LIFE KILLING practice refused to do it anymore.
I would Just like to tell you that we as Christians ‘believe’ GOD when he says that we are to speak up for the ONES who cannot speak up for themselves….HE says that before we were even ‘born’ HE knew the very number of hairs on our head and that HE knew us…..
So, please understand, as Christians, we are not against any Woman being able to make her own ‘choices’ on what she does with her ‘own’ body. The ‘choices’ women are free to make is the ‘choice’ to come together with the man in the first place, whether it be her husband, boyfriend or one nighter, as they say……this is the right as women to choose what she will do with ‘her own’ BODY…and it is..God that has GIVEN her that right to chooses in the first place….But when a pregnancy is the result of that ‘choice’ a Woman’s choice menu changes.
She is now still ‘free to choose’ how she looks after her own body anyway she likes, but the Baby’s Body is separate and is relying on her Body to help take care of him or her just like a new Born Baby depends on her to look after ‘him or ‘her’, and make sure they are able to continue to grow and stay healthy…..and I call every Woman who is pregnant a Mother because she has a Baby, even though this little BABY is in her ‘own’ body…..This little Baby is NOT a ‘fetus’ which by the way is not what God calls the Baby in the womb it is what Human’s call the Baby because it ‘dehumanizes’ the Baby and makes it easier for a Mother to make the ‘choice’ to end her little Baby’s life.
Anyway, we are not against any Woman out there having to make choices as to what she does with her ‘own’ body, we are trying to protect and speak out for the little ‘BABY’ inside that no one can hear. We do this because God says EVERY LIFE is a GIFT from HIM and we KNOW, and yes even before ‘ultra sounds’ that this IS a little BABY that will Bless someone some day…
I know it is hard to think of this LIttle Baby growing and maturing ever second inside the Mother’s womb as a BABY but that is exactly what ‘he’ or ‘she’ is….and sometimes they are ‘planned’ and therefore are immediately loved and looked at as being Her or Their BABY….and sometimes they are ‘unplanned’ and still they are immediately ‘loved’ and believed to be Her or Their BABY…And then there are the times when because of a ‘choice’ made by 2 people for whatever their reasons to come together, the BABY is looked at as a ‘mistake’ and NOT a BABY’. BUT in reality, the ‘mistake’ is not the BABY it is ‘the ‘choice’ the two people made to come together in the first place….the BABY is the LIFE that happens when people ‘make this choice’ .
We as humans always want to blame someone for OUR ‘mistakes or bad choices’ so in the case of Women and pregnancy, if the BABY is wanted most will call the little LIFE growing inside their BABY as soon as they find out they are expecting….for someone who wants nothing to do with the responsibilities of the little BABY they can’t bare to call this new miraculous Life a BABY.
Instead they are ‘trained’ in thought by a Worldview that says it is absolutely okay to ‘dispose’ of, as they put it, Fetus, (this Little LIfe, this Little Baby, what they consider to be a MISTAKE and go on their way.
I, as a Christian Grandmother find this so sad….God detests this BUT offers ‘forgiveness’ at the same time. He is always there for ANYONE to come to Him…all HE asks is that a person Repents (changes their mind about God) , turn away from Sin (agree with what God says is right and wrong) and put their trust in what Jesus Christ did on the Cross for them. HE died for EVERY SIN that you and I have ever done and will ever do. He loves you soooooo much that God the Father gave HIS ONLY Son that WHOSEVER believes in HIM shall be saved…..If you will let the Holy Spirit SHOW you how much HE loves you and show you just how precious YOU are to HIM…YOU will understand in your heart just how much these Little Babies from conception are to HIM and can be to their Mother’s, Parents…..
I pray that the Holy Spirit will soften your heart to the Truth, which is not a what but a WHO…His Name is JESUS CHRIST..and LIFE BEGINS WITH HIM….for HE said ‘I AM THE TRUTH, THE WAY AND THE LIFE AND NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME’.
May God Bless
Gramma Gail
Does this mean that people that are born from a c-section are not considered a legal entity in Canada?
soo soo sad that so many little babies never see the light of day — their talents never discovered and developed.
We only have to look at Ronaldo from Portugal one of the world’s best if not the best footballer in the world.
His mother was going to abort him but was advised not too. A similar story with Celine Dion, a priest told her mother not to do it and a what a talent the world has witnessed
Patricia – For every Ronaldo and Celine, there are millions of kids growing up in homes where they are unwanted and oftentimes resented. I cannot tell you how many times my mother told me and my siblings that she wished she would have never had us and wish she could have aborted us. She treated us terribly in ways most cannot imagine. Out of six kids, one is sociopathic criminal, two are lifelong drug users, one is mentally harmed to the point he cannot care for himself and two are what one might consider normal. I also enjoy pop music and football but most kids are average and many live in terrible situations. In fact, if you look at the number of kids who die every day worldwide from neglect, starvations and brutal violence it is absolutely stunning. Still, I also dislike abortion and think it is terrible.
The real solution to abortion is open, candid and accurate sex education and readily available birth control. It is a win-win where we stop pretending that all children are welcomed additions while simultaneously reducing abortions by reducing conception. When people who do not want children have the knowledge and tools to avoid getting pregnant in the first place, we reduce abortions and increase the chances that children are born into homes and environments where they will be treated well.
I hope you know hitler was going to be aborted, but wasn’t. What about that? If you want to go the route saying all of these famous people, what about the evil ones? Huh?
There are literally children in cages in the USA. The number of unwanted children starving, being abused and mistreated is startling too. These are love children who you pro-lifers ignore. Where is all your outrage for these children where is your outrage at the US government. Your politicians are known pedophiles and you say nothing. The men you vote for have either gotten or forced their mistresses to have adortions. Your church is disgusting. You and your followers have no right to anyone’s womb. P.S god doesn’t love hypocrites. Go to hell.
using US data and simply extrapolating their biased findings.. and adding them to your “near” truthful statements… Canada is different… and you are not worthy
Thank you for this. I’m ashamed of myself as a follower of Jesus that I have not been active against this murder of children.
Judge not. yet ye be a judged. It’s not our choice who is a right..and who is wrong. Im deeply devested about the facts. Although medically. Without offering to “protect” this woman from attempting the procedure themselves or worse. I’m “pro life” too. The option of abortion should be held with the same mob mentality as war…nuclear bombs and capital punishment.
Um we don’t need an extra 100,000 babies born every year. Where will they all live and what would they eat. This is a good thing.
It’s crazy to me that a child has no right to live. A woman that chooses to carry a baby past 24 weeks should not be able to choose as a matter of convenience to terminate a child’s life. It is not terminating a pregnancy- it is terminating a life. And it is not about our bodies – a woman’s body is subject to a temporary condition when she is pregnant she may choose to give the child up for abortion should the fetus become viable.
I applaud all those who are pro-life. We all are. Unfortunately, this post is pro-birth. Not one mention of how to support the mother, or future child and that is why most women turn to abort – because they cannot care on their own.
If you don’t want an abortion, don’t get one. This entire article is nothing but judgment on a topic that I assure you, devastates all involved.
SN. I volunteered for a pro-life organization and there was nothing that wasn’t supplied for a mother having a baby. From diapers, to baby food and formula, to clothes, to cribs, to emotional support and love. Also, now the govenment gives each child a nice cheque to help out. I think women have the choice not to sleep with men and therefore stop the chance of getting pregnant. Too much “free love” going around. Women need to take back control of their bodies by not having one night stands and giving themselves away to every guy they think will be “the one” without getting to know them. Also, being a parent of an adopted child, I know couples who wait for years for a baby and have to resort to going to other countries. There is no shortage of loving homes waiting for children. Ending the life of a baby almost full term, is nothing short of murder, which by the way is being done, so don’t kid yourself. Get informed.
No babies are harmed in abortions. Silly man. Abortions for all; On Demand.
Mind yall ________ business because y’all aren’t gonna help me raise this baby yall only care about it till its outta the womb stfu mind your business my body my choice?? Yall
Abortion should be legal. Period. If you don’t want an abortion, don’t have one. Stay out of the bedroom and stop denying women rights.
So, what I’m getting from this article is that every child that is conceived should be born (except those conceived due to rape/incest), even if the mother/father/family of parents is not physically or financially able to? Driving child poverty rates up the wall and only for the country to do what, pretty much ignoring that problem? That makes a lot of sense…
If you still believe praying does anything you are objectively wrong, as im sure you ignorant people have been praying for abortions to end since your bible thumping parents told you to, Instead of asking your personal idea of a christian god to change peoples minds on going through with child births that they dont want you could be spending your time taking care of those children that are born out of being morally forced too. But lets face it, you dont give a damn what happens to the kids after they are born.
Canada has no laws on abortion ????? Have you read the history on abortion, laws, new laws, etc. There are laws on abortion in Canada. Best to educate yourself before pushing your personal agenda and religious beliefs on others. Why do you think your religion is correct? There are many religions in this world and when personal religious beliefs are pushed on others and information presented in a misconstrued way to support that religion then what you are pushing is beliefs, not facts.
FYI – Canada is one of only a few nations with NO legal restrictions on abortion. That means no laws – i.e. if there are no speed limits, there are no speeding laws…
If a woman doesn’t have control over her body she is a slave. If you don’t want an abortion, don’t have one. Want to support a woman? Than adopt one (or more) of the many children who need permanent loving homes.
Instead of judging…hmm..wonder what Jesus would say about that? ….maybe act as loving parent to the children who are actually born?
You make an asuumption that the people commenting aren’t doing those things
Omg… Hahahaha this is the funniest thing I ever read. You are literally a joke!! I’m glad my tax dollars pay for a woman to have control over her own body! Your facts are also not true at all. Stop the propaganda!!
I find it rather difficult to believe that there are 100,000 abortions a year in Canada. I think we would be more in line with 10,000. The reasons and circumstances surrounding every one of these medical dilemmas would have many different facts. There is no clear cut answer to the practice of medical abortions in Canada or any other country. With the information and support that is available to Women that find themselves in these situations, the decisions should rest solely with Doctor and patient with the support and advice of whosoever the patient may want to consult with. Every person who believes they need an abortion should have every available resource at their service to ensure the best decision is made. Many things we do as a society are morally wrong to some, so we can not as a society push our beliefs or laws regarding these personal, medical, life altering decisions onto females that do have the right to make these decisions regarding their own futures. Weather we like it or not, the decision to have an abortion, or not to have an abortion, has to ultimately be made by the person carrying that fetus, unless they are mentally or intellectually challenged to a degree that they are incapable. This is a multi faceted issue that has been debated since this procedure was invented, and it will continue far into the future. Again, with many inventions and procedures we have put into use throughout our world, the Genie is out of the bottle, and the bottle is shattered into a million pieces!
Great article! Could you tell me where the source is for the stats you have given? Thanks!
as someone who follows Jesus, I know that He wants me to treasure and protect all life. I want life for all those babies! I ws able to adopt several wonderful, beautiful children , I love them with all my heart! I am sooo glad their parents chose life over death! I was so blessed to be given a little child to raise as my own! At that time you had to wait an average of 10 years for a baby to come along to adopt. I also enjoyed being a foster parent for many years. helping kids, helping families, loving and caring for them. This is what Jesus wants us to do. Love one another. Just saying, there are many people like me who wish for a baby….is there some way to have these unplanned babies go to homes like mine? oh please… someone I know had an abortion. She struggles so much with the thought of what she did, she wishes she hadnt had her abortion. She did it as she couldn’t see how it would work at that time, it would change her life , she was scared. He was scared. Please put your baby up for adoption instead. please!! there are many great families out there who would love a child!
This is disgusting… who let a someone with the mental hability of a 2 year old publish this??! Dont like abortions?? Dont have one!! Care about “children”??? Theres 5,500 children dying of starvation and disease in southern Africa ALONE!!! Theres 39.000 little girls being married to grown men EVERY. DAY. AND 7.3 MILLION TEEN GIRLS GIVING BIRTH EVERY YEAR!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME????
I think it is helpful to remember when considering important issues the fact that we all judge. Whatever worldview we hold, judgements are a necessary part of life and being human. We are constantly judging right from wrong on a personal level. This goes from deciding upon which outfit looks the best in the morning to deciding how people should treat other people in social, moral situations and beyond. Chances are as you are reading this comment you are already judging what I am saying right now to be right or wrong. It isn’t the act of making a judgement that is wrong…I think it is more important to ask , “Is this judgement true?”. I want to send out an open challenge for people to look beyond “judging the judgemental people” and take a serious look at what true. Is this a human being in need of protection? What facts led you to the truth you believe? I think Steve has done an excellent job discussing the reasons that he believes that babies in the womb need protection.