Question Period Note: Forced and Coerced Sterilization

Forced and coerced sterilization is a violation of human rights
and evidence of racism in our health and social systems.
• Impacted individuals requiring support can contact the 24/7
Hope for Wellness Line.
• Canada has committed to addressing anti-Indigenous racism in
Canada's health systems. Budget 2021 provided $126.7 million
over 3 years to foster health systems free from racism and
discrimination where Indigenous Peoples are respected and
safe.
• In addition, Budget 2022 invested $6.2M over two years to
respond directly to the needs of survivors.

n/a

If pressed on forced and coerced sterilization
• All Indigenous women must receive culturally safe health
services with fully informed consent.
• The department’s response has focused on prevention and
includes:
o supporting a national forum on informed consent in 2020
to guide future work;
o supporting national Indigenous women’s organizations to
raise awareness and begin to understand the scope;
o and, investments in Indigenous midwifery.
• Budget 2021 provides $33.3 million for Indigenous midwives and
doulas, regional and grassroots organizations, and youth sexual
health networks to increase awareness of reproductive rights.
• This investment also includes funding for Indigenous women’s
organizations to ensure their voices are heard and to support
their work on racism and Indigenous women's health.
• Budget 2022 invests in culturally safe initiatives that support the
physical, mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing of survivors
of forced and coerced sterilization.
• The Advisory Committee on Indigenous Women’s Wellbeing
continues to advise and guide our response.

If pressed on the report from Quebec: Research Report on Free
and Informed Consent and Imposed Sterilizations among First
Nations and Inuit Women in Quebec
• On November 24, 2023, the First Nations of Quebec and
Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC)
released a report on forced sterilizations of Indigenous women
in Quebec.
• It recommended actions to improve safety and to help
Indigenous women better understand their rights. It also
recommended that Canada respond immediately to the July
2022 report by the Standing Senate Committee on Human
Rights.
• Health Canada, with support from Indigenous Services Canada,
is leading the government response to the Senate Committee,
along with support from the Department of Justice.

If pressed further on actions being taken
• Following the death of Joyce Echaquan, Three National
Dialogues were convened by Indigenous Services Canada, with
support of Health Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations.
• These dialogues included National Indigenous Organization
representatives, Indigenous health professionals, health
systems partners, and provincial/territorial representatives to
discuss racism in health systems and commit to strategies to
eliminate it.
• In August 2021, the Government of Canada posted its federal
response for addressing anti-Indigenous racism in health
systems which includes support to patient advocates, health
system navigators, and cultural safety training for medical
professionals.
• The longer-term approach will be informed by an ongoing
national dialogue, the renewal of Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy
and the co-development of distinctions-based health legislation.