November 2, 2024

On October 29, 2024, the Department of Finance released details about proposed new regulations to address alleged misinformation directed to women seeking pregnancy counselling and support. Many of the charities that provide such services disfavour abortion, and Finance takes the view that they are “concealing the true nature of their services [and] restricting the rights of vulnerable pregnant women to choose the reproductive care appropriate to them and their circumstances.” 

The proposal would mandate that any registered charity whose purpose or main activity is to provide reproductive health services would be required to disclose if it does not provide abortion services, or referrals or information related to abortion. This 

The regulations are expected to apply to less than 200 charities in Canada, but impose heavy disclosure requirements on these charities.