| Sperm donors, Surrogacy, Adoption and Co-Parenting laws in Canada |
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Legislation in United Kingdom United States Ireland New Zealand South Africa AustraliaLike the UK, Canada is one of the most advanced countries in the world regarding sperm donation and artificial repoduction laws, and LGTB parenting rights. Artificial insemination and other ART procedures are opened to lesbians and singles, free sperm donors can be anonymous or known, and same sex parenting is legally possible. Yet Canadian laws still lack harmonization regarding surrogacy agreements, attribution of parentage and adoption access to same sex couples jointly. Also, like almost anywhere else in the world, coparenting agreements for more than 2 parents are not as such contemplated by law.Donor Conception (embryo, egg and sperm donation) in Canada |
General | The Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004 governs reproductive technologies at a federal level in Canada. | Assisted Human Reproduction Act (S.C. 2004, c. 2) / Department of Justice, Canada: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca Assisted Human Reproduction Canada (AHRC), federal regulatory agency: ahrc-pac.gc.ca |
Assisted Reproductive technology (artificial insemination, IVF, etc.) | Discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or marital status is prohibited: lesbians and singles have full access to artificial insemination and ART procedures. | List of fertility clinics / Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society: cfas.ca |
Self-insemination | As self-insemination is not specifically mentionned in the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, there is some uncertainty regarding as how it should legally be treated. Local specificities / exceptions: The province in which the child is born will govern the parentage attribution process. | |
Identifying information on embryo, egg and sperm donors | Both known and anonymous sperm donations are allowed and regulated by the same law. A sperm donor has the choice to share his identity or remain anonymous. | Becoming a donor / AHRC Canada: ahrc-pac.gc.ca |
Paid or freem sperm donors? | Purchasing, offer to purchase or advertise for the purchase of sperm or ova from a donor is strictly forbidden. However, advertisement for altruistic donors is not prohibited. Reasonable expenses reimbursements are authorized and should soon be regulated. | The Reproductive lay in Canada / Sherry Levitan, Barrister and Solicitor: fertilitylaw.ca |
Surrogacy in Canada |
Altruistic surrogacy | Altruistic surrogacy is allowed but still neither fully legally controlled nor protected. Local specificities / exceptions:Parentage conflicts may arise and be treated differently depending on the state where the surrogacy took place. | Surrogacy in Canada / Sherry Levitan, Barrister and Solicitor: fertilitylaw.ca |
Commercial surrogacy | Commercial arrangements involving a surrogate mother are strictly forbidden, as is advertisement for paid surrogacy. | Prohibited Activities, Assisted Human Reproduction Act (S.C. 2004, c. 2) / Department of Justice, Canada: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca |
Surrogacy abroad | Assisted Human Reproduction Canada (AHRC) does not prohibit surrogacy abroad as such, but strongly advises to get medical and legal counseling before undergoing such a procedure. Local specificities / exceptions:Parentage rights in this case are a very sensitive matter as they depend on the legislation of the country where the surrogacy takes place and the state of residency of intented parents. | Undergoing AHR Outside of Canada: Issues and Risks: ahrc-pac.gc.ca |
Can gay dads have a surrogate child? | In the case of surrogacy, pre-birth surrogacy arrangements are not enforceable by law and a post-birth court application is required to establish the parentage of intended parents. If one of them is the biological father, his partner is allowed to apply for a declaration of parentage. If none of the intended fathers is biologically related to the child, adoption laws apply. Local specificities / exceptions:Legal procedures in order for gay dads to obtain parentage of a child born out of a surrogacy arrangement depend on each jurisdiction. | Declaration of Parentage in Canada / Surrogate Motherhood: surrogatemother.com |
Adoption in Canada |
Access to general adoption | Adoption in Canada is a provincially mandated issue. Each province and territory has its own rules and regulations regarding all aspects of adoption. Single individuals can apply to adopt. Local specificities / exceptions: Common law and same sex couples can apply jointly for an adoption in almost every Canadian State, except for New Brunswick where the act is being revised. | Adoption Resource Guide for Canadians / AHRC Canada: adoptiveparents.ca |
Step child adoption for same sex couples | Since 2005, same sex couples have acces to civil marriage on the same basis as opposite sex couples and share the exact same rights. Local specificities / exceptions: Conditions for obtaining the right to adopt one's partner step child depends on provincial legislation. | Civil Marriage Act: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca |
Co-Parenting in Canada |
Only 2 co-parents involved | Generally, the woman who gives birth is presumed to be the child's mother. The second legal parent can be of the same or opposite sex and does not need to be the biological parent of the child. | Same Sex Spousal and Family Rights in Canada / Canadian Lawyers: canadian-lawyers.ca |
More than 2 co-parents involved (e.g. 1 couple + 1 single or 2 couples) | "Currently a Canadian child can only have up to two legal parents. Co-parenting contracts arenot legally binding, still they are recommended as they contribute to clarify parenting roles of all people involved. " | Queer Parenting: Co-parenting / Family Service Toronto: lgbtqparentingconnection.ca |
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