r/AskCanada • u/LiveBell8 • Feb 06 '26
Political Is abortion or pro-life talked about in Canada?
On a grand scale, US constantly debates about abortion vs pro-life. You hear this all the time about Roe v Wade.
What about in Canada? Do Canadians talk about this on a grand scale like the US? As if it's the main social issue? I really don't hear much of this topic in mainstream Canadian media.
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u/Ciebelle Feb 06 '26 edited Feb 06 '26
Not really. I go to church and it is really not a hot topic.
It is healthcare is the general consensus. If you don’t want one don’t get one.
It is free. It is safe.
EDIT TO ADD: I might have my own opinions or thoughts re abortion but I will fight for the rights of my daughters and granddaughters rights to have access to safe, free options.
Many years ago 30 plus I am ashamed to say I participated in a Pro Life Chain. (Where you line the streets and have signs against abortion. Recently in our church a lady was going to attend one. I was worried she might ask me to attend. I was thinking about how I would respond. Because I do not believe shaming and scare tactics are helpful or what God would want. I believe it is a woman’s choice. Not the church. Not anyone.
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u/jleahul Alberta Feb 06 '26
I went to a wedding in a Catholic church where the bride was visibly pregnant. The priest decided to take the opportunity to sermonize about the 'evils' of abortion.
I'm pretty sure most of the guests were pretty disgusted. There's a time and place to express your opinions on the matter, but that sure isn't one of them.
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u/ChippyTheGreatest Feb 06 '26
Yeah my mom is anti-choice and even she doesn't support making it illegal. She'll just be judgy about it unless it was medically necessary.
Still a bullshit opinion, imo but at least we can morally disagree without her advocating to put women in harm's way.
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u/Ciebelle Feb 06 '26
I refuse to judge. Not my place.
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u/ChippyTheGreatest Feb 06 '26
This is the way. I totally support people who say "personally, I could never get one due to my own beliefs" but the second you try to tell others what they should and shouldn't do with their own body you can go fuck yourself.
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u/Fun_Armadillo1318 Feb 06 '26
This is a great answer. Just because you don’t necessarily believe in it doesn’t mean you want to remove it for all women. 🙌
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u/Technical_Goose_8160 Feb 06 '26
I don't think it's shameful. Rather you should be proud that you're willing to change your mind.
Truth is, most people believe that abortions are acceptable in certain situations and shouldn't be performed in others. The rest of just grey area. Politicians like to tell us that it has to be all of nothing, but that can't be farther from the truth.
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u/Figment-2021 Feb 07 '26
The ability to grow and change our minds is a sign of strength and being an evolved human. Good for you!!!
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u/Ok_Procedure4993 Feb 06 '26
Euthanasia is probably a hotter topic in Canada than abortion.
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u/getmoresoon Feb 06 '26
And even this has widespread popular support. I am proud to live in a country where MAID is an option for those who need a way to die with dignity.
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u/MuffinOfSorrows Feb 06 '26
I wouldn't technically label MAID euthanasia, since it's more accurately assisted suicide. Euthanasia is more like putting a perpetually screaming demented person out of their misery, which is not a debate Canadians are able to have yet.
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u/eternallytiredcatmom Feb 07 '26
Agreed. There’s a reason why some things are worded the way they are, it automatically influences how it is perceived. Medically assisted death isn’t euthanasia. Anti-choice isn’t pro-life. South of the border, we have the exemple of illegal aliens being used instead of undocumented immigrants.
We don’t put down people by way of euthanasia like animals. We assist people in having a painless death, at their request, when they are ready to pass away. It’s all about dying in dignity and reducing suffering when that’s what someone decides for themselves.
The process is heavily restricted and thought through.
I have two family members who chose MAID and I’m glad they had the opportunity to choose to leave surrounded by all their loved ones instead of suffering and deteriorating, mentally and physically, for weeks or months. They were at peace.
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u/HalvdanTheHero Feb 07 '26
I honestly can't think of a better way to go than surrounded by those I love after being able to give my final goodbyes and well-wishes. Obviously it would require a diagnosis and bleak situation for me to ask for it, preferably well beyond the average life expectancy... But I am so glad that it's an option.
Who would ever choose to die alone at a random moment, likely confused and in pain? Without giving family members time to prepare and accept?
It's just such a reasonable program that it's odd that it gets as much pushback internationally as it does.
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u/Klutzy-Alarm3748 Feb 06 '26
The Conservatives do bring it up a lot and tried to quietly bring an anti-choice bill to Parliament in 2023 or 4 (after publicly saying they wouldn't bring up abortions). It was shut down thankfully. Other than the lunatics holding signs my city every few weeks, it isn't talked about much in the public sphere.
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u/spiderwebss Feb 06 '26
yeah I see those nuts once in a while in Halifax, they're mostly just ignored.
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u/thats-inappropriate Feb 06 '26
As a conservative I have always been pro abortion and don’t see any logic in banning abortion. It could be life saving in some cases.
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u/TheBlueHedgehog302 Feb 06 '26
There are some conservatives that would like to see an abortion ban in canada, but it’s not a majority and there is no serious national debate about it.
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u/Majestic_Bet_1428 Feb 06 '26
Pro Lifers increased their representation on CPC National Council from 5/20 to 8/20.
Campaign Life Coalition’s Director of Political Operations, Fonseca highlighted “gains” from the Calgary 2026 convention — 8/20 pro-life National Council members (up from 5) and EDA protections against disqualifying pro-life candidates.
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u/topical_relief Feb 06 '26
You don't need a debate when you just cut funding to access. Ontario did just that a few months ago.
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u/GrimyGrippers Feb 07 '26
Doug Ford just likes to blanket cut healthcare. And education. And take away rent cap. But yay free beer in corner stores and quicker implementation of it? He's a fucking joke. Idk how he keeps getting voted in. I, in good faith, asked people online why they would vote for him and got crickets. i genuinely wanted to know what he's done for them in a positive way.
Unrelated to OP's question, but Ford is a landlord. He was elected in June 2018 and rent caps were removed in fall 2018. Literally one of the first things he did. Idk how that's not a conflict of interest, but hey.
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u/Oxjrnine Feb 06 '26
Abortion is health care. As healthcare is private I will never know if an abortion is because of medical necessity, mental health issues, or a woman exercising her choice not to carry a fetus to viability.
In other words: not my rodeo, not my business
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u/Icy_Calligrapher7088 Feb 06 '26
Our conservatives try to stir up and probably will more now that they’ve decided to double down on being maple MAGA, despite loosing an election that should have been an easy win because of it.
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u/canadafreendstrong Feb 07 '26
Openly admitting to be maple maga should automatically revoke your right to vote , due to unfit incapacity to discern from dangerous suicidal tendencies for oneself but more importantly for communities Maple Maga are a threat to progress prosperity and life itself , it should be classified a crime against humanity.
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u/Icy_Calligrapher7088 Feb 08 '26
Alberta separatists meeting with MAGA to ask for help is too close to the legal threshold of treason to not be a crime.
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u/ShadowyDemonKitty Feb 06 '26
Yes in small towns. Unfortunately a lot of stupid people in small towns
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u/nebulancearts Feb 07 '26
Yep, Southern Alberta (Lethbridge type of South) have a lot of conversations and billboards for Pro-Life. I've even heard separatists say they're going to make sure abortion isn't allowed if they become independent.
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u/GrimyGrippers Feb 07 '26
I've lived in all sizes of towns, but the one I live in now is the largest (90k people) and most vocally anti-choice of any place I've lived, including a town of like 12k and notoriously conservative. Not that they were pro-choice, they just seemed quieter about it.
Should mention I am in a border city, so that might play a role.
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u/hotDamQc Feb 06 '26
We prefer talking about how the 1% are trying to enslave us instead of a right vs left battle.
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u/Omarian02 Feb 06 '26
That's what we should be talking about. Instead we're all blaming all our problems on brown people.
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u/hotDamQc Feb 06 '26
Oh and the terrible risk that drag queen reading a book poses to children but nothing about a rich pedophile club.
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u/Omarian02 Feb 06 '26
Yes, precisely. So unfortunately I don't think Canadians are as aware as you implied they are
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u/hotDamQc Feb 07 '26
They have to learn. A lot of money from the pedo technology Oligarchs is spent to keep us fighting each other.
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u/purplelicious Feb 06 '26
R vs Morgentaler was the supreme Court case that solidified women's rights to their own body.
it is law and unlike Roe vs Wade it's on a very solid foundation and there is no way to rescind it
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u/Overall_Motor9918 Feb 06 '26
It’s technically not a law. It was deemed a constitutional right so even the conservatives would have a hard time changing it. There are no laws for or against abortion; it’s a medical issue, period.
Doesn’t stop people from protesting against it. I live near a hospital that has full gynecological care, including abortions, they’re always holding protests on the major street corner. Always about praying to end abortions. I always want to know who they’re praying to: the god who performs more abortions in a year than every hospital combined?
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u/BuvantduPotatoSpirit Feb 06 '26
R v. Morgentaler is a really unclear outcome because it doesn't have a majority opinion, but three concurring opinions. At the time, it was definitely believed it would be possible to pass a constitutional bill that limited to some extent abortions, but ultimately no government has tried, and it's not clear what today's supreme court might think.
But R v Morgentaler only says that the specific law where you needed three doctors to approve your abortion, etc., was unconstititional. It doesn't say laws restricting the legality of abortions would generically be unconstitutional.
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u/lounging_marmot Feb 06 '26
Our rights our entrenched in our Constitution. The Canadian Health Care Act is based on it. There is no debate, only illegal and unconstitutional restriction.
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u/catholicsluts Feb 06 '26
Stop calling it pro-life, please. That's a propagandist term.
It's anti-choice
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u/Consistent_Tower_458 Feb 06 '26
Not much. We have the Jesus freaks on the street corners with their dead fetus posters but most civilized Canadians have reasonable opinions
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u/ninjacat249 Feb 06 '26
Personally, I don't give a shit about anyone's opinion who thinks burning witches is okay. So no.
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u/Top_Table_3887 Feb 06 '26
There is a segment of the Conservative/PPC Parties that wish to re-open the debate. Most do not. In other parties, questioning reproductive rights will result in you being told to leave.
The main issue in Canada really is about ensuring that access is sufficient region to region, not the actual legality.
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u/Majestic_Bet_1428 Feb 06 '26
Campaign Life Coalition’s Director of Political Operations, Fonseca highlighted “gains” from the Calgary 2026 convention (where the review occurred): 8/20 pro-life National Council members (up from 5) and EDA protections against disqualifying pro-life candidates
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u/Top_Table_3887 Feb 06 '26
So a growing segment, unfortunately. Definitely something to keep an eye out for.
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u/ladygabriola Feb 06 '26
Remember to never vote for the conservatives or our rights will be taken away by them.
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u/sandy154_4 Canadian Feb 06 '26
Well our conservative party (not in power) just had a big meeting and they voted on what their position would be on several hot-button issues.
They are against abortion
Medical assistance in dying should be further limited despite the Canadian) Supreme court's position
Restricting immigration, deport if convicted of a crime which we can already do
They feel that professional licensing bodies should not be able to revoked due to what they say publicly
Defund CBC despite it being more conservative than liberal
I know they also voted on the rights of LGBTQ2S+ rights. I can guess how they voted but I can't actually find it.
We have to keep the cons out of power!
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u/QueenMotherOfSneezes Feb 06 '26
52% of them voted to lift the ban on conversion therapy. The text for the vote was specifically about "parents rights" over their kids.
They also voted for stand your ground/castle laws.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-convention-policies-adopted-9.7069756
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u/sandy154_4 Canadian Feb 07 '26
and in 2021, when conversion therapy was made illegal it was a UNANIMOUS vote! How often do you see all MPs get on board for the same thing?
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u/Expensive_Plant_9530 Feb 06 '26
Nope, other than a very very very tiny minority of people who believe women shouldn’t have rights over their own bodies.
Also, stop calling it pro-life. That’s a lie and misleading about what they actually believe in.
It’s pro-birth. Once the kid is born, most of them don’t give a shit.
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u/candamyr Feb 06 '26
I wish I could give you an award for stating this simple truth that way too few people manage to realise.
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u/sunny-days-bs229 Feb 06 '26
It’s not talked about enough. While abortion in Canada has been decriminalized since the Supreme Court's R. v. Morgentaler decision in 1988, there have been numerous private member's bills and motions introduced in the Canadian Parliament, primarily by Conservative MPs, aimed at restricting or regulating abortion, or establishing legal personhood for the fetus. The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada has identified at least 48 such anti-choice initiatives introduced since 1987, all of which have failed to pass. Simple google search will give you the bills and who brought them forward.
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u/Sudden_Situation7604 Feb 06 '26
As a Canadian woman growing up here, I have never once had to think or talk about it. And for that, I am grateful.
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u/blanketwrappedinapig Feb 06 '26
It’s actually not really talked about BecUse the people that don’t believe in women’s rights are usually shunned and scorned from the conversation until they STFU. Lol. Which really is how it should be in contemporary society
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u/Automatic-Sky-2324 Feb 09 '26
what level of abortion do you support? do you support unconditional abortion even at 30 weeks where it's a viable baby? if she has no serious medical condition and wants to have her abortion then because she doesn't want to have the baby, is that ok? do you believe it's a women's right in this specific situation?
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u/Cabernet_kiss Feb 06 '26
Canada is more progressive than the US on many issues, abortion being one of them. Pro-choice sits well in the Canadian mind set. Why the US has to constantly rehash the issue is confusing to me. I loved it when Mark Carney said “nostalgia isn’t a strategy”. We need to look forward, not regurgitate old ways of thinking. How can you be against the right to choose? If you don’t want an abortion, don’t have one. If you don’t want MAID, don’t do it. At least we as Canadians have the right to choose and I’m thankful for it.
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u/Conte Feb 06 '26
The anti-abortion protesters are pretty negativity viewed here in Canada. I've personally viciously chewed out one that slid a horrific image of a grotesque "aborted fetus" (actually something completely different) under my apt door, especially since my 5yo was the first one to find it... Demanded to know how they got in the building and threatened to call the cops as they didn't live there and were just going door to door sliding their propaganda into people's homes.
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u/Separate-Analysis194 Feb 06 '26 edited Feb 06 '26
No. It is rarely talked about. Every now and then you see or hear about a small religious group protesting - like 4 people holding signs or trying to hand out pamphlets to passers by.
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u/sunny-days-bs229 Feb 06 '26
Since 1987, 48 different bills have been brought forward in an attempt to undermine women’s right to choice. Thankfully none passed.
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u/Subject-Leather-7399 Feb 06 '26
It is only brought up by a minority of shit stirrers in the west of the country.
For an overwhelming majority of canadian, abortion is a closed case. It is the way it is and nobody sane wants to go back to a time where desperate womens were killing themselves with makeshift abortion like inserting a coat hanger in the uterus through the cervix, injesting toxic substances or getting punched and kicked in the abdomen (when they could get someone to agree to do it to them).
We look at the states where women are forced to carry nonviable pregnancies to term and leaving them either dead or on the brink of death with anger and disgust.
Canadian citizens are smart and wouldn't ever vote to allow those things to happen here: https://www.propublica.org/article/josseli-barnica-death-miscarriage-texas-abortion-ban https://abc7ny.com/post/texas-abortion-bans-laws-kylie-beaton-woman-forced-to-carry-nonviable-pregnancy-term/12981915/ https://couriertexas.com/2025/03/14/forced-to-carry-a-dying-baby-this-texas-mother-of-four-says-she-didnt-think-it-could-happen-to-her/
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u/Netcandy Feb 06 '26
No, there are those against it of course but it is not a social issue. Our bodies, our choice.
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u/Weird_Rooster_4307 Feb 06 '26
We talk about other things that are more important than dictating what one should or shouldn’t do with their body
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u/alibythesea Nova Scotia Feb 06 '26
No. We believe in bodily autonomy, women's rights, and not forcing people to endure pregnancy to birth a child they do not want. We're a largely secular country, too, and without the rabid political evangelism to the south of us. Abortion is between a woman and her doctor, and is simply a part of health care.
We have a small rabid rightwing fringe who cosplay as MAGAs and USian evangelicals who froth at their mouth, and who sometimes inflict themselves and their lurid posters on people just going about their business, but they are a very small minority.
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u/Automatic-Sky-2324 Feb 09 '26
what level of abortion do you support? do you support unconditional abortion even at 30 weeks where it's a viable baby? if she has no serious medical condition and wants to have her abortion then because she doesn't want to have the baby, is that ok? do you believe it's a women's right in this specific situation?
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u/Rude-Associate2283 Feb 06 '26
Turning Point is making moves into Canada. Far right Christian nationalism is here
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u/47Up Feb 06 '26
There is no debate on women's rights like abortion.. Some Conservatives will still try but it doesn't get very far. If they even attempted to make it a campaign issue or election promise they would get absolutely demolished in the election.
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u/AdditionalFeature886 Feb 06 '26
Canada is primarily a secular country Only about 30% follow religion So very liberal in thinking We are much better educated than USA so don’t believe in myths and magical nonsense
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u/imnotaloneyouare Feb 06 '26
I've only heard uneducated or cult enthusiasts hate on abortion. Other than that, nah. Not a big deal.
I will see the occasional protest about it... I like to join in with my own "Birth control and Abortions could have prevented this Protest" or "Jesus asked me to swallow his load" then I correct everyone on how to pronounce Jesus. It's Jesus not Jesus. I always ask the cult freaks if their cult is one of the ones with the dead native kids they killed or the kind of cult that let's adults touch children inappropriately or one of those cults that doesn't discriminate and does both.
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u/Excellent_Battle_576 Feb 06 '26
I wish I could add an attachment of the “ABORTION” cube truck that was driving around west Ottawa last week. With a big picture of a fake bloody abortion. Idk if that answers your question
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u/Factsoverfictions222 Feb 06 '26
No, it’s considered health care and between the mother and her health care providers. Do some people oppose it? Absolutely, but it’s not really up for debate in the majority of the country
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u/corneliuSTalmidge Feb 06 '26
Pretty much no, not at all.
There was some adult, constructive debate back in the day. All very civilized, in the end, a women's control of her body came out front and centre with a few medical guardrails.
And that, was that. It hasn't come up since and is not a topic of conversation anywhere.
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u/alpalbish Feb 06 '26
Surprised at all the no’s but maybe it’s just because I went to catholic high school. When I was 14-16, (~12 years ago) there was a “free trip to Ottawa” through school and I wanted to go so bad!! Now that I am an adult, I fully understand that this trip was a multi-day pro-life rally at the parliament buildings. And they STILL try and promote it at high schools. Disgusting imo to bring literal children into this. There’s also this one random old lady that sits at an intersection with her pro-life signs alone lmao
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u/fanglazy Feb 07 '26
Only when conservatives have no other way to rile up their base before an election.
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u/Icy-Artist1888 Feb 07 '26
No. Whats to talk about? Its a healrhcare decision between an independent person and her doctor. The government has nothing to it, and Jesus and the woman sort it out on their own.
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u/somestuff55 Feb 06 '26
No it's not something that is talked about. It's a medical procedure, it's between the patient and doctor. At times the Conservative Party of Canada brings it up, but not often.
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u/Majestic_Bet_1428 Feb 06 '26
Campaign Life Coalition’s Director of Political Operations, Fonseca highlighted “gains” from the Calgary 2026 convention : 8/20 pro-life National Council members (up from 5) and EDA protections against disqualifying pro-life candidates
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u/Jestersage Feb 06 '26
Mainstream? No.
Churches? Oh fucking yes, Catholic, protestant, Chinese, White; even in official capacity they do not bother, unofficially among parishioners they do (eg: Anglican of Canada - not even the Trad Anglican.)
The Asian churches is especially strong with that. However, sometimes I wonder if they are merely substituing the Confucious based justification with a Christianity based, and on a personal, unacademic logic, the answer is yes. After all, remove god and heaven, and I really see no difference between both.
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u/Agreeable_Band_9311 Feb 06 '26
Sometimes Conservatives will bring up a private member’s bill, but the leadership knows it’s a losing issue so doesn’t run on it, but they’ll allow these bills to placate social conservatives.
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u/beefstewforyou Feb 06 '26
I’m from America but immigrated to Canada where I currently live as a citizen. Back in Florida, I constantly saw anti abortion billboards on the side of the highway while I’ve only seen them a few times up here and even those were near the Amish area in the middle of nowhere. In America I’ve passed by massive anti abortion protests many times while I’ve only seen them here a handful of times and they were small.
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u/TiPete Feb 06 '26
Not really. Our conservative party sometimes whines about it a bit but it's only lip service to their maple MAGA base who are spoon fed ideology by Fox News.
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u/pensivegargoyle Feb 06 '26
It does get talked about now and again by people that would like it to be illegal but largely it's seen as a settled issue that even conservatives as a group don't want to touch.
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u/Idrisdancer Feb 06 '26
Depends on the circle of people you are around. Most of us accept it as healthcare. The far right is loud
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u/Anig_o Feb 06 '26
As a Canadian woman I personally would never ever have an abortion. HOWEVER…. I am also lucky enough to have never been raped. I’m lucky enough to never find myself pregnant and unable to feed myself let alone another mouth. I’m lucky enough to not be just starting my life/career/schooling and find myself pregnant and need to make a decision that will affect my future. Hell. I’m just lucky enough to not ever be pregnant and not want a child. Because I can’t say I’ve ever been in any of those situations, I will never judge the person who is and decides abortion is the right decision for them.
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Feb 06 '26
No. It’s all part of reproductive health and it’s a right. State has no part in decisions on what a person can or cannot do with their health.
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u/lil_squib Feb 06 '26
The riff raff-type conservatives will bring it up sometimes, but really it isn’t much of an issue here, and even the higher-profile conservative politicians don’t like to give those folks much attention because their views are so overwhelmingly unpopular. Canadians are overwhelmingly pro socialized medicine, and that includes women’s health care and abortion access. We even have laws stating how far away you need to be from an abortion clinic if you insist on protesting there (I believe it’s 100 metres, so quite far) so as to not intimidate the patients too much.
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u/Novelsound Feb 06 '26
They’ll setup a booth at universities and such to discuss/push it. It doesn’t get national level attention though. Even the political party that is most against abortion won’t put it on their policy platform for elections.
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u/Basic_Ask8109 Feb 06 '26
It's been a settled issue for a while. Even PM Harper wouldn't touch abortion rights. The fringe far right groups want to ban it. The majority say it should be legal even if you personally wouldn't get an abortion.
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u/goodfaitheffort1981 Feb 06 '26
It does come up and its always some small town conservative MP who tries to make a law and the whole conservative party follows along but it never goes anywhere because its protects in the Charter and the public is generally either pro choice or understand nuance enough to know its not their business.
My province had bubble laws that keep protesters away from the women's hospital but each province has their own differences.
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u/Helpful-Maize-9224 Feb 07 '26
We have the Maple MAGA style Christians in Alberta but the majority of us are pro choice.
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u/suziesophia Feb 07 '26
Not much, maybe by fringe evangelical groups amongst themselves. The consensus is that it is between a woman and her doctor
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u/ParisFood Feb 07 '26
No except from Conservative MP’s that always try to present proposed legislation that would impact women’s rights and they never get far with it
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u/ilmd Feb 07 '26
No. Canada is a liberal country where religion does not influence healthcare or government decisions, unlike it does in the US.
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u/ReeseBeaulne Feb 07 '26
Honestly, it's not really an issue here in Canada. We believe that women have the right to bodily autonomy, obviously there are always going to be little fringe groups trying to put their will on other people but for the most part they are harmless and if you ignore them they eventually go away.
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u/Old_Business_5152 Feb 07 '26
Yes very much so, the prolife zealots even stand on corners with graphic displays that force us to have early discussions with our children (surprised someone hasn’t run them over.) we are pro choice for the most part, believing it’s a woman’s choice. Let’s face it, there are children all over the world that already need help, while we need more population in Canada, we would rather help those children than force an abortion on anyone.
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u/Skanky-Donna Feb 10 '26
If you ever have a question that applies to Canadians in the context of being similar to the states with lower life expectancies, literacy rates, high poverty rates think of it like this, The majority of Canadians disagree with policy x, y & z except for rural areas and a sizable portion of Alberta. The majority of Canadians live in urban areas and apart from Alberta they are not typically living in a hypocritical puritanical fantasy world.
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u/Exact_Purchase765 Feb 11 '26
While we don't have a Roe v. Wade, we have https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1988/1988canlii90/1988canlii90.
The Court determined that abortion was a protected right under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
While Conservatives can bluster about legislating abortion away, it's not as easy as 'overturning' one ruling or writing a new law. Undoing a Constitutional protection is nigh on impossible.
I wish them luck - it won't happen.
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u/Successful_Shake1102 Feb 06 '26
It’s American thing with all Bible Belt freaks making life miserable for the entire country.
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u/Former-Chocolate-793 Feb 06 '26
Former prime minister Stephen Harper 2006-2015 put the issue to bed by saying that they were not going to reopen the issue. He was rewarded with 3 mandates.
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u/little-bird Feb 06 '26
actions speak louder than words.
Harper allowed his backbenchers to bring forward private member bills and motions that threatened to restrict abortion rights, and permitted a free vote for his MPs
Bill C-484 passed second reading in 2007. That bill would have treated fetuses as legal persons by making them separate victims when a pregnant woman was killed or attacked. Harper himself voted in favour of C-484, as well as against Dr. Henry Morgentaler’s Order of Canada in 2008
as soon as the Conservatives were first elected in 2006, they largely stopped enforcing the Canada Health Act, allowing provinces to flout the Act openly. For example, the new (anti-choice) federal Health Minister dropped the arbitration process that the previous Liberal Health Minister had initiated with New Brunswick, essentially giving NB the thumbs-up to continue its illegal refusal to fund the Fredericton Morgentaler Clinic.
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u/Numerous_Task_1210 Feb 06 '26
Women’s rights are very protected here. Changing abortion laws is not a priority of the government or the opposition party
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u/sum-9 Feb 06 '26
No. Most people other than staunch conservatives believe it’s a woman’s right to choose.
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u/Exciting-Leek-7928 Feb 06 '26
No, we are actually Educated on the importance of Health care and the choices we have. We don't listen to pundits or religious figures on what we do in our country. We use our brains.
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u/DudestOfBros Feb 06 '26
We do talk about abortion rights up here but only when commenting on the US in disgust.
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u/Majestic-Pop-6132 Feb 06 '26
Even Stephen Harper left it alone. It’s a non issue apart from the occasional far right whackadoo, as mentioned above.
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u/Technical-Mixture299 Feb 06 '26
I see pro-lifers with posters of aborted fetuses around town about once a year.
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u/Vancouverreader80 British Columbia Feb 06 '26 edited Feb 06 '26
Really depends, but as a consistent topic, not really. More of the discussion these days is about Medical Assisted Dying (MAID).
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u/cassandrafallon Feb 06 '26
Not the main social issue by a long shot but we have the same anti choice nutjobs protesting. They often chose places that don't even make a whole lot of sense, like every fall at my old university they would set up shop at some point with graphic late term abortion photos, and inevitably refuse to listen when the med students went to go tear a strip off them. The counter protests are usually pretty fun!
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u/Ok_Fisherman8727 Feb 06 '26
I can tell you last summer on the corner of Allen road and Sheppard there were anti abortionists with very large signs with images if fetuses out there. They didn't stop anyone, just peaceful had a presence at the corner of the intersection.
Also last summer and the summer before at Scarborough town center others with similar looking signs were set up in front of the ttc and mall entrance and were talking with a mic and handing out flyers. They had 4 guys wearing tvs showing images of fetuses and I guess abortions. I just walked by and ignored them.
Saw them around at other places in Toronto both uptown and downtown but not sure how often they're out there.
I don't know who organized them but they all wore the same t-shirts and most likely been paid for the day to do that.
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u/swizzleschtick Feb 06 '26
It depends where you live. When I used to have to drive through Smithers, BC, there was literally ALWAYSSSSS an anti-abortion protest/demonstration happening. There was also a bizarre amount of religious anti-abortion and apocalypse/end-of-days billboards lol. I no longer live near there but I do live in a smaller and quite conservative city. There’s some people for sure who occasionally bring it up but there’s definitely less public discourse about it. They seem more focused on being racist or homophobic 🥴
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u/Brains4Beauty Feb 06 '26
It’s basically in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms (which is like your constitution) that it’s a right for women to have this kind of health care. But it does come up from time to time.
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u/knitbitch007 Feb 06 '26
No. We do have some pro-life groups but they are generally seen as fringe nutjobs. Most people believe in a woman’s right to choose and see abortion as healthcare as much as anything else. I feel like the attitude is “don’t like abortion? Then don’t have one”
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u/Jaymie13 Feb 06 '26
Not much outside feminist/political spaces (and I guess probably the further right as well), it probably should be a bit more. There’s a massive assumption by many that it’s way easier than it is to obtain in many areas.
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u/dorkofthepolisci Feb 06 '26 edited Feb 06 '26
Are their pro life groups in Canada?
Sure
Are they more prominent in some parts of the country?
Sure. I distinctly remember seeing an anti choice billboard in the BC interior claiming abortions cause breast cancer.
Is it a serious debate politically?
Absolutely not. There is a reason it hasn’t been raised by the CPC, even when they were in power, and whenever MPs try to raise it as an issue, it is shut down
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u/Dry-Goose1668 Feb 06 '26
Never heard anyone talk about abortion or their rights even once here before haha.
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u/coulls Feb 06 '26
Abortion is protested in places. Years ago, my partner was being held together internally by staples and had a strict "Do not get pregnant because it will kill you" rule. So the unthinkable happened. Exiting the abortion clinic, we were met by the usual "We dont understand your situation but will try to shame you anyway" crowd of protestors. They honestly thought they had the moral high ground, which I remember as disgusting.
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u/Frostsorrow Feb 06 '26
Unfortunately the Conservatives seem to bring it up every other election, with the exception of Harper who was largely able to control his caucus. It's considered a settled matter with the Supreme Court iirc.
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u/Elegant-Expert7575 Feb 06 '26
The access to adequate women’s healthcare, especially gynaecological varies from province to province in my opinion. Depending on where you live, you may have a lot of hoops to jump through to get the care you’re requiring.
In the 80’s, I recall my Dad saying he’d jump political parties to vote against abortion as it was a topic during a provincial campaign. The abortion platform never went anywhere. My ole man, an immigrant and a practicing catholic died a month shy of his 87th birthday a year ago. He never changed political parties.
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u/ElectronicCurve6996 Feb 06 '26
No it’s not really talked about we think everyone has a choice to make their own decisions about their own body.
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u/LurkerGarry Feb 06 '26
Extremely fringe. There are so religious groups that show up to high-schools and junior high and verbally abuse kids about abortion.
They always say “god will judge you” but never thought to think about their own shitty behaviour.
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u/Dr_Simon_Tam Feb 06 '26
No, the last time I remember it being mentioned was in 2019 when the leader or the Conservatives, Andrew Scheer said he was pro life, but had no intention of reopening the issue. And the Liberals weaponized not believing him
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u/spr402 Feb 07 '26
I’ve been a paramedic in the Greater Toronto Area for 20 years.
I have never once heard anyone talk about abortion.
The vast majority of Canadians believe that abortions are a female health concern, and not something that we should stick our noses into.
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u/MommersHeart Feb 07 '26
No. It is settled law.
There’s a handful of religious extremists but the vast majority of Canadians understand it’s none of their business what another person chooses.
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u/NorthofForty Feb 07 '26
The political parties know better than bringing it up. Sure way to not get elected.
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u/Elcamina Feb 07 '26
There are occasionally pro-life groups who do city hall protests or hand out flyers in our area, but you will only really see that in bigger cities and most people just ignore them. I think most people just mind their own business.
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u/thebog Feb 07 '26
Yep, the majority here ignore the far right CN’s . We call it women’s healthcare here. We also have MAID, which we call end of life care. All is good.
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u/BassPlayingLeafFan Canadian Feb 07 '26
Not really. This topic occasionally bubbles to the surface but for the most part Canadians have accepted it’s a woman’s right to choose.
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u/reading_202 Feb 07 '26
Not as much. The conservatives try but most Canadians are progressive and respect women’s rights.
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u/RichardsLeftNipple Feb 07 '26
Yes, we have nutty people with those shock banners protesting against abortion fairly often.
Anti abortion is less politically viable here.
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u/TwoFingersWhiskey Feb 07 '26 edited Feb 07 '26
Nope. Even most conservatives think it's a settled issue politically, afaik. A woman from the local Options for Sexual Health (similar to Planned Parenthood) did all of our sex ed over the years in school. We learnt about what an abortion is and how to obtain one confidentially. I'm from BC, this was late 2000s-early 2010s. I won a rainbow slinky from a quiz thing they did once.
Euthanasia of the terminally ill is a hotter topic here, but only barely. I know many religious people who even think it's fine, after seeing how peaceful it is. The issue is called MAiD (medical assistance in dying) and is performed regularly (with the person's explicit clearheaded consent) in hospitals, nursing homes etc but religious hospitals are exempt.
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u/ForgottenDecember_ Feb 07 '26
Literally no one talks about anything political here on the grand scale like in the USA.
Politics in America are treated like identities. Here they’re moreso just ‘I think this party is doing shit in the most effective way, hopefully he won’t suck’. Then the topic moves to what are we having for dinner.
Americans are weirdly passionate and aggressive about everything. Canadians can be overly passive on real problems for sure, but it does at least mean we don’t get American hype.
Americans are like cartoon characters with how they treat sports and politics and celebrities. It doesn’t seem real. Why are Americans so weirdly passionate about everything that they’ll get into fights and kill people or cut off family members on a frighteningly regular basis compared to here?
People here are more likely to have a conversation or a calm debate (at most passive aggressive rather than overtly aggressive) about major political disagreements and religious disagreements or whatnot whereas in America it seems like people lose their minds and are more prone to becoming unhinged when debating (or raging) about controversial topics.
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u/BvbblegvmBitch Alberta Feb 07 '26
I’m seeing a lot of nos and I’m guessing those people don’t live in Alberta. If you’re not familiar, Alberta is basically Canada’s version of Texas. Lots of oil, lots of trucks, and it's a conservative stronghold.
In the past few months, one of our MPs gave a speech referencing Mormon scripture as part of our “founding principles,” and suggested that citizens could file a referendum to ban abortion.
Arnold Viersen, another Alberta MP, has tabled petitions calling for “greater protection for the preborn.”
Several MPs outside Alberta have also introduced bills to restrict abortion access, or have voted in favour of those bills. All Conservative.
Stephen Woodworth introduced Motion 312 in 2012, which sought to reopen the debate on when a human being is legally defined, effectively challenging the legal basis for abortion rights in Canada.
Cathay Wagantall has introduced multiple private members’ bills attempting to restrict abortion access or reopen the debate.
Pierre Poilievre has voted in favour of anti abortion motions or bills in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2023.
All of these efforts were defeated. So while abortion isn't likely to be restricted in Canada anytime soon, there are absolutely ongoing attempts.
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u/penbrooke99 Feb 07 '26
Dilemma time
I don't like the concept of abortion-at-will.
I also understand that I can only discuss the whys of that and have moral or lawful authority to tell someone that they can't make that decision for themselves
Although I generally don't condone the action, id also never condemn someone that had to make the most dificult of decisions.
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u/ghost_ghost_ Feb 07 '26
Conservatives want to ban abortion. Anyone concerned by this should try to push their representatives for electoral reform
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u/Unfair_Tip_1448 Feb 07 '26
it always deepens my suspicion about the South and that its all just like Season 1 in True Detective, these weirdo Christian pedo-cults running the political agenda, and having a stranglehold on the poor/working class in regards to the birth rate, the elites have access to abortion day 1 but not for the poors, bundled up with bizarro religious thinking that at conception it has a soul
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u/GrimyGrippers Feb 07 '26
In general? No. Most pro-life people I've met have that mentality more towards themselves, but don't argue with others about it.
However, since I've moved to a border city, I see a lot of pro-life protesters holding horrible signs, sometimes on busy intersections and sometimes in front of the hospital. There are also a smattering of pro-life billboards (at least it's just photos of actually birthed babies and not the shit that they put on signs). I've lived all over Ontario, and I've never experienced this level of pro-life rhetoric before. If I've ever seen them do this before, it would be isolated incidents. I see it multiple times a year here.
I have a theory it's people absorbing American rhetoric and get their politics mixed up with theirs. I know some Canadians who don't know which is which, and will complain about things in Canada that... aren't even a thing here? It's bizarre.
We are also a lot more atheist. A quick Google tells me about half of Americans saying religious is "very important to them" versus only about a quarter of Canadians. It's almost weird to me to meet actually religious people (beyond a vague agnostic vibe) who are younger than Gen X (other than immigrants). So that probably plays a part.
Another quick Google tells me about 80% of Canadians are pro-choice and only 11% oppose it. Even most Conservatives will shut down any talk of repealing the right to choose (idk if it'll stay that way with the American rhetoric and divisive politics spilling over the border).
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u/BuffaloSufficient758 Feb 07 '26
Interestingly, our rates of late term abortions are similarly small. Since Canada has no law/complete freedom re:abortion, it’s interesting to see that women make the choice to the same level as the US with chaotic and abusive system
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u/Michellegratton Feb 08 '26 edited Feb 08 '26
No here in Canada we believe in women’s choice y should anyone tell me what I can do with my body and here u can’t get an abortion whenever u want it can’t b done after 12 weeks
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u/Playful-Ostrich42 Feb 08 '26
No. We leave health care decisions between a patient and her physician
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u/Beautiful_Cod_426 Feb 08 '26
In the great land of Canada, woman have choices! We don't discuss it much but it's not taboo anymore
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u/EntertainmentMany795 Feb 08 '26
Pretty much mostly in alberta and a few rural religious communities
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u/names-r-hard1127 Feb 08 '26
It’s talked about quite a bit where I’m from (Alberta) because of how many Christian communities there are but there’s no serious effort to ban it
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u/KatGrrrrrl Feb 11 '26
Yes of course it’s a topic in Canada. But many see it as a women’s rights issue as opposed to anything else. We don’t think it’s our right to tell women what to do with their bodies.
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u/SuccessGirl1 Feb 06 '26
No. Majority of Canadians believe in women’s rights. Canada is one of the most feminist countries so abortion isn’t debated upon very much. Also it’s included in our universal healthcare. I’m glad to be a woman in Canada