(Kathleen Harris/ CBC News) — A Liberal MP, backed by his party’s women’s caucus, is pushing for a legal change to allow surrogate mothers and sperm donors to be paid for their services.
Anthony Housefather, chair of the House of Commons justice committee, said Canada’s current law is out of step with modern families — with same-sex couples, single mothers and women choosing to have children later in life.
He said the ban on fees creates a grey zone which leaves potential surrogates anxious about breaking the law.
Housefather, who held a news conference on Parliament Hill today with fertility lawyers, doctors and clinicians, plans to table a private member’s bill in May after hearing input from constitutional lawyers and other experts. He said he hopes the government will endorse it, though he has received no commitment to date.
“I’m hopeful this is in line with the government’s agenda and, in the end result, they will support the initiative,” he said.
The Canadian law, which came into force in 2004, prohibits paying a surrogate mother for her services, but does allow reimbursement for certain medical and maternity costs when the surrogate mother is performing the service for altruistic reasons. (…)