M-104 Reproductive health

That, in the opinion of the House, the government should:

(a) recognize health as defined by the World Health Organization as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”;

(b) recognize the negative health outcomes that unintended pregnancies can have on women, children and families across Canada;

(c) recognize the history and ongoing prevalence of coercive and forced sterilization in Canada, especially for Indigenous communities;

(d) recognize individuals’ right to access a comprehensive package of sexual and reproductive health services, including a range of modern methods of contraception for voluntary use, free from barriers, as an integral foundation to fulfilling the highest attainable measure of health;

(e) recognize that particular groups such as youth, immigrants, Indigenous peoples, people living in rural and remote communities and those of low socioeconomic status face marginalization in healthcare which can create a greater barrier to accessing contraceptives;

(f) recognize the right of individuals who can get pregnant to make free and informed decisions regarding their reproductive choices; and

(g) commit to support the reproductive health and well-being of individuals and their communities by

(i) fully funding data collection and reporting on sexual health indicators (including contraception use data) to inform sound policy decisions relating to sexual and reproductive health,

(ii) negotiating with provincial governments to cover the costs of all prescribed contraceptives (including emergency contraceptives) and medications for medical abortions,

(iii) increasing transfers from federal to provincial governments to cover these costs.