...Canada’s laws against abortion Abortion in Canada is legal at any point in a woman's pregnancy for any reason, and is governed by the Canada Health Act.[1] While some non-legal obstacles exist,Canada is one of only a few nations with no legal restrictions on abortion.[2][3] Regulations and accessibility vary between provinces.[4] Early in Canadian history, all abortions were illegal. The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968-69 introduced by Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government legalized abortion as long as a committee of doctors signed off that it was necessary for the physical or mental well-being of the mother. In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in R. v. Morgentaler that the existing laws were unconstitutional and struck down the 1969 law. The then governing Progressive Conservatives attempted, but failed, to pass a new abortion law, and since then Canada has had no criminal laws governing the subject, and abortion is a decision made by a woman with her doctor. Without legal delays, most abortions are done at an early stage.[5] In 2005, 97,254 abortions were reported in Canada; it is estimated that this number "represents approximately 90% of all abortions performed in Canada involving Canadian residents".[6] This number has been decreasing since at least 1998.[6] Abortion was completely banned in Canada in 1869. As in other countries, illegal abortions were still performed, and some cases charged that this led to the deaths of women. An early example received much attention...
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...is known for the lack of professional performed abortions. Women are often denied the procedure and sent to clinics outside of Prince Edward Island to receive proper care. This province is very Catholic, therefore majority of the citizens are in favour of the government not funding abortions. Nearly all hospitals in any Maritime Provinces will not perform abortions on women from outside of the province. Women who get this of news are left “confused and scared about what was happening inside”(Harrowing Experiences of Medical Abortions on Canada's Prince Edward Island Renews Criticism) their bodies. As a result, close to 200 women from Prince Edward Island will travel to Nova Scotia or New Brunswick...
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...Public Policy: Abortion The public policy regarding abortion plays a large role in U.S. politics through influential interest groups who are either pro-life or pro-choice advocates. These opposing sides have compelling arguments regarding the abortion policy in the U.S. that have been largely debated since the legislation of Roe vs. Wade in 1973, where the U.S. government declared that abortion was a “fundamental right” of American women. (Procon.org) While majority of Americans agree that abortion should not be recriminalized, there is still controversy over policies regarding abortion. Pro-choice advocates discourage all policies restricting abortions or taxes making them less affordable, where as pro-life advocates encourage stricter policies on abortions. In the U.S., The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) and the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) are opposing advocacy groups that have greatly influenced this public policy and continue to inform and educate the general public on the abortion issue. Public policy regarding abortion is not just a national debate, other democratic countries face debate over abortion policies. For example, Canada has faced similar debate over abortion policies, but differs from the U.S. in significant ways. Pro- choice advocates in the U.S. believe that the government does not have to right to interfere with a women’s choice to get an abortion. They argue that women must have the right to abortion in order to posses the...
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...Abortion is a very controversial social issue that has existed for many decades. The controversy behind this issue is caused by the different views that people and societies have regarding abortion. The social science disciplines of political science and religion will be used in getting a better understanding of the opposing views of abortion. In discussing the religious aspects of abortion, this paper will focus on the Jewish and Catholic views of abortion and how the two faiths effect an individual s decision upon having an abortion. When discussing the political controversy regarding abortion, this paper will discuss the abortion laws in Canada and the United States as well as the pro-choice and anti-choice movements of abortion. Society is greatly affected both socially and politically by abortions due to the different moralistic views regarding abortions and the controversies surrounding abortions. What are the views of the Catholic and Jewish religions on having abortions and how do their different views effect society? How is society effected by the political controversies behind abortions? Religion and Abortion Abortion is an issue that causes extreme divisions among various religious groups due to the laws of the religions, in particular, those of the Jewish and Christian religions. The Jewish religion is based on the belief in one G-d as well as respecting the laws that G-d imposed on the Jews. The Jewish people are expected to do what is just and merciful in the...
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...TOPIC/ISSUE Health Canada’s approval on Linepharma’s abortion pill Mifepristone has taken more than 106 days longer compared to 40 other new medications approved in recent years; the longest of which took 644 days to be approved (Grant, 2014). This issue holds political significance for several reasons: Unequal Access to Abortion Services – Approval of Mifepristone will equalize access to these services in areas where they are scarce as women can obtain the service through their family doctor. Privacy – The approval of Mifepristone will allow family physicians to prescribe this medication so that abortion can happen within the confidentiality of the patient and their primary care physician. Medication Safety – The substitute abortion medication is Methotrexate, a chemotherapy medication that is inferior to Mifepristone as it requires more time to work, is less predictable, and is more likely to cause birth defects should the abortion fails. Political Issue – There are suspicions that the Harper Government is politically involved in the Mifepristone’s latest delay as it will conveniently postpone the decision until after the fall election. Canadian Women Rights – Since the medication has been approved and has been greatly beneficial to women in many other countries, Mifepristone’s delay has also been seen as an issue of women’s right to a medical treatment that is considered as the Gold Standard for medical abortion. ANALYSIS – Policy Cycle, Key Interests, Institutional...
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...and The Attorney General of Canada Intervener INDEXED AS: R. v. MORGENTALER File No.: 19556. 1986: October 7, 8, 9, 10; 1988: January 28. Present: Dickson C.J. and Beetz, Estey, McIntyre, Lamer, Wilson and La Forest JJ. ON APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO Constitutional law -- Charter of Rights -- Life, liberty and security of the person -- Fundamental justice -- Abortion -- Criminal Code prohibiting abortion except where life or health of woman endangered -- Whether or not abortion provisions infringe right to life, liberty and security of the person -- If so, whether or not such infringement in accord with fundamental justice -- Whether or not impugned legislation reasonable and demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society -- Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, ss. 1, 7 -- Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, s. 251. Constitutional law -- Jurisdiction -- Superior court powers and inter-delegation -- Whether or not therapeutic abortion committees exercising s. 96 court functions -- Whether or not abortion provisions improperly delegate criminal law powers -- Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 91(27), 96. Constitutional law -- Charter of Rights -- Whether or not Attorney General's right of appeal constitutional -- Costs -- Whether or not prohibition on costs constitutional -- Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, ss. 605, 610(3). Criminal law -- Abortion -- Criminal Code prohibiting abortion and procuring of abortion except where life or health...
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...Abortion can be quite the controversial topic, many countries with some people even getting killed for having them. Abortion is the act of ending a pregnancy before the fetus (unborn child) can live independently outside the mother. If an abortion happens spontaneously before 24 weeks of pregnancy, it is called a miscarriage. An induced (or "therapeutic") abortion is caused deliberately in order to end the pregnancy. The question is, where does Canada stand in accordance to the issue? Looking at legal issues, social constructs,medical aspects and personal reflection will help determine the answer to the popular question, “Which is better “pro-life” or “pro-choice”?” A glance at where Canada stands in a legal aspect can determine where Canada is as a nation on the question at hand. In the year 1969 the act of abortion...
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...Abortions in Teenagers: Is it Right? Abortion among teenagers is becoming a very controversial subject throughout the world. Unplanned pregnancies are more common now than they ever have been. An unplanned pregnancy is scary to even think about, but it actually happening could be life changing. However, if the pregnancy is planned an abortion could still be possible. Some people believe abortion is never right but in some cases others may think it is necessary. For the abortions that are performed, there not only is the emotional factor of ending a life but there are also serious symptoms that a person can have after an abortion. In addition to this, a controversial topic is whether or not an abortion is ending a life. To some, an abortion...
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...University of Windsor Analyzing the Political Success of Women in Canada Daksh Patel Women and Politics 02-53-211-1 Dr. Cheryl Collier November 26, 2015 Introduction Politics is difficult and massive subject that has the potential to affect all things nationwide and internationally. For long periods in time, history has been dominated by men in power. But now in modern states where life is more peaceful than it has relatively been before there is time to think about our position, needs, and wants. In this manner the political landscape in Canada has evolved. Only until nearly a century ago were women allowed to vote and be elected (Newman, White 62). During the early years the progress was celebrated for things that seem like minor...
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...Abortion is one of the most controversial issues in society today. This topic has become a very large dispute due to the right of having choices in society. A woman’s right to choose to have an abortion or not, is legally her fundamental right. However, if society outlaws the choice of having an abortion, society is interfering with the woman’s right to make decisions related to her own body. Therefore, this is when the question comes in on whether abortion should be justifiable or not looking at factors influencing one’s decisions, the effects of religious norms, structural constraints, and personal religiosity. This argumentative topic can be supported from the sociological concepts of sociological imagination and social conflict in society...
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...fifteenth prime minister of Canada and held this position for sixteen years. He was the most controversial Prime Minster in Canadian history. He made some tough decisions for the unity of Canada. He was Prime Minster from 1968 to 1979 and 1980 to 1984. In 1972 Trudeau returned with a minority Liberal government. I came to Canada as an immigrant and arrived in Montréal at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. Later on, I came to know that he was the famous Prime Minster of Canada from Montreal. Trudeau had a vision of unified, bilingual and multicultural Canada. Trudeau used to drive sports cars, wore capes and floppy hats, and always had a red rose in his lapel. His charismatic, flamboyant and exciting...
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..._________________________________________________Abortion should not be legal and must be stopped. Laws have never stopped abortion, but only made it unsafe for women. Abortion is a universal practice that has been with us since the beginning of time, whether legal or illegal. _________________________________________________Most Canadians believe that abortion should be illegal. The majority rules in a democracy. About 78% of Canadians believe that abortion is a private matter between a woman and her doctor. Human rights are guaranteed for everyone and are not subject to the whim of the electorate. Even if only a minority believed in freedom of choice, that right should be protected from the tyranny of the majority. _________________________________________________Pro-life is pro-family. Pro-abortionists are anti-family. Abortion destroys the family. Legal abortion helps parents limit their families to the number of children they want and can afford. This strengthens and stabilizes the family unit. Therefore, pro-choice is pro-child and pro-family. Anti-abortion laws can cause stress and hardship for families with insufficient resources to raise unwanted children. Families with unwanted children often consist of a child and her child, living at the lowest levels of society. _________________________________________________The right of the unborn to live supersedes any right of a woman to "control her own body." Margaret Sanger said, "No woman can call herself free who...
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...ABORTION 2 Abortion – The Silent Scream Life is irreplaceable. However, Jones and Chaloner (2007) state “from the perspective of the pregnant women, it may be claimed that it is her life and her body and therefore she has a moral right to choose what happens to it” (p.47). Kimport, Foster and Weitz (2011) indicate “women do experience negative emotions after abortion” (p.103). Abortion should be avoided because it causes some physical problems, leads to psychological health issues and takes away the feeling of motherhood from women. Abortion causes physical problems. Abortion causes emotion pain to women. Rousset et al. (2012) highlight “a traumatic experience that can lead women to develop a posttraumatic stress disorder” (p.507). Termination leads to chances of miscarriage. Asgharnia et al. (2012) assert “ectopic pregnancy has been rising because of the growing incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease, fertility drugs and pelvic surgery” (p1). An abortion has a negative effect on a female body. “Women’s breast tissue is left in a dangerously stimulated, are considered as risk factors for the development of breast cancer” (Costarelli & Yiannakouris, 2010. p. 38). Abortion increases the chances to have cervical cancer. “Abortion is associated with an increased risk of epithelial ovarian cancer” (Braem et al., 2012, p.5). Infertility rate...
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...Abortion is a very public dispute among everyone in our society because everyone has different opinions in our world on weather abortions should be legal or illegal and honestly in my opinion I believe it should be illegal in every state and country in the world. In the United States it is legal to abort a baby up until the day of birth. An abortion is the ending of pregnancy before birth which results in the death of an embryo or a fetus. Many people consider abortion as cruel as murder. Although some might say abortion is justifiable, others believe that no one but God has the right to take someone's life. Supporters of abortion, however, do not consider an unborn child a person who must be protected. With an issue like abortion, there...
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...Canada: A People’s History, Episode 17 | K/U | T | C | A | Student Mark | | | | | Possible Mark | 10 | 10 | 5 | 5 | Hard Times 1. What difficulties did the people face with the recession of the 1980s? List at least five. (A: /5) * Inflation rates increased, which caused prices to increase a lot * Unemployment rates increased * Mortgage rate increased (causing people to move out of their houses) * Industrialized world is in recession * Managements became more aggressive which lead the unions to become more intimidated and offensive than before. Solidarity 1. Inflation caused governments to cut back on social programs and civil service jobs. What did the workers call for and why? (K: /1) The workers felt outraged and then decided on a movement. People in the movement protest for democracy and wanting it now. A rapidly organized collation, known as solidarity, the movement calls for a general strike. It is the biggest social protest in British Columbia. 2. Who supported the government and why? (K: /1) Many people from the private sector support the government, like business men. 3. Who was watching the action in British Columbia and why? (K: /1) The other government watched the action in British Columbia because people will start rioting if Bill Bennet wins. The Night of Long Knives 1. What was Trudeau's goal regarding the Constitution? (K: /1) Trudeau’s goal regarding the constitution was to bring home the Canadian Constitution...
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