Question Period Note: Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Services

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KEY MESSAGES
• All Canadians should have access to sexual and reproductive health services, no matter where they live.
• This Government is investing in women’s health, including ensuring there will always be funding for abortion care in Canada, and by providing funding to organizations for projects to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services.
• This includes projects that are helping women to access supports for abortion care, fertility care, and services at various life stages, including for endometriosis and menopause.
IF PRESSED

Q1: If pressed on women’s sexual and reproductive health
A1:
• A strong society and economy is built on women’s equality, where women can achieve success without systemic barriers holding them back.
• We provide funding through the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund to support abortion care and other sexual and reproductive health services in Canada.
• Approximately $37.7 million to date has been invested in fifteen projects focused primarily on women’s sexual and reproductive health.
• These projects are helping improve access to needed services and supports for women’s reproductive health.
Q2: If pressed on abortion services – general
A2:
• This Government is committed to upholding the fundamental right to choose: no one should be forced to carry an unwanted or unsafe pregnancy.
• This Government provides funding through the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund permanent, to help women access the care they need.
• This Fund has invested approximately $19.1 million to date in projects to improve access to abortion care.
• These projects are improving access to accurate information about abortion and providing financial and logistical support for travel for women in rural or remote areas.
Q3: If pressed on abortion services – compliance under the Canada Health Act
A3:
• While abortion services are insured in all provinces and territories there is still work to be done to improve access in many areas of the country.
• Some provinces have been subject to Canada Health Transfer deductions as a result of patient charges being levied for access to abortion services. We applaud recent changes in provincial policy in these areas and will continue to engage with other jurisdictions as they continue work to eliminate patient charges for access to abortion services.
Q4: If pressed on in vitro fertilization services
A4:
• Provinces and territories are responsible for delivering health services to residents in their jurisdiction, including sexual and reproductive health services, such as in vitro fertilization.
• The Government is committed to helping Canadians who want to become parents by making these services more affordable.
• For instance, the Medical Expense Tax Credit was expanded in 2022 to include more costs related to in vitro fertilization and other fertility care.
• The federal government also administers and enforces the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, which protects the health and safety of Canadians who use assisted human reproduction technologies, including in vitro fertilization.
Q5: If pressed on data
A5:
• The Government is investing $7.6 million over five years for Statistics Canada to collect data that will fill existing information gaps and help us target appropriate sexual and reproductive health supports for Canadians.
• In addition, our Government has committed to expand this work, with additional funding to Statistics Canada of $7.5 million over five years for a survey on female gynecological health and a survey of abortion providers in Canada to address gaps in our information.

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• Only 27% of women going through peri/menopause report their family physician proactively discussed menopause with them; of those who sought medical advice themselves, few (28%) found it to be helpful (Menopause Foundation of Canada, 2022).

• Canada’s fertility rate has been steadily declining since 2009. In 2022, it was 1.33 children per woman (Statistics Canada, 2024). One in six Canadian adults will be impacted by infertility in their lifetime (Fertility Matters Canada, 2024).