On June 9, 2019, the federal government published new regulations regarding reimbursements related to assisted reproduction.  The new regulations can be found here: http://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2019/2019-06-26/html/sor-dors193-eng.html  The new regulations will take effect in June 2020. Health Canada is also seeking input regarding its Draft Guidance Document and is accepting submissions regarding that draft document until July 26, […]

14 years after the Assisted Human Reproduction Act came into effect, Health Canada has released a list of proposed allowable reimbursable expenses for surrogates and donors.  Health Canada will consult the industry on these proposals until January 2019.  For more on this story, follow the link to the CBC article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/assisted-reproduction-surrogate-sperm-1.4879572

An interesting article about the proposed changes to our surrogacy laws and the need for compensated egg and sperm donations in Canada: https://abovethelaw.com/2018/05/canada-reconsiders-its-harsh-stance-on-surrogacy/

Prime Minister Trudeau said that it is time to have a national conversation about compensated surrogacy, sperm donation and egg donation in Canada.  This follows the announcement that a Liberal private member’s bill will be put forward in May to decriminalize compensated surrogacy, sperm donation and egg donation in Canada.  Follow the link to read […]

I am very happy to hear that a Liberal MP is bringing forward a private member’s bill in May with hopes of decriminalizing compensated surrogacy as well as compensated egg and sperm donation in Canada.  Click here for the full article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/decriminalization-surrogate-mothers-sperm-donors-1.4594733

An interesting read on mitochondrial replacement therapy which involves swapping a certain type of DNA between two women’s eggs.  The procedure could prevent women from passing on fatal inherited genetic diseases to their offspring. http://nationalpost.com/news/canada-should-ok-three-parent-babies-commentary-argues-for-lifting-of-ban-on-controversial-technique  

Professionals working in the assisted human reproduction fields are calling for the federal government to update the Assisted Human Reproduction Act to allow for compensated surrogacy.  Check out the link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/time-to-change-surrogacy-laws-in-canada-say-delegates-at-fertility-conference-1.4292981

There are calls for urgent legislative change in Australia after the recent decision of the full Family Court concluded that parents who sought commercial surrogacy abroad could not be recognized as the legal parents of a child (now 3) in Australia. Follow this link to read more about it: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/surrogacy-decision-leaves-children-without-parents/news-story/865957dbf734bdda22a43b7d2933a05a