Liberals call on Harper government to end delays in regulating assisted human reproduction

OTTAWA - Liberals today called upon the Harper government to stop delaying regulations for protecting Canadians who need medical assistance to form a family, arguing that further delay would put the health and safety of Canadians at risk.

Years have gone by without the necessary regulations to enforce a safe and ethical framework for patients and children under Canada's Assisted Human Reproduction Act, 2004.

"These delays are inexcusable. The Government of Canada is failing the thousands of Canadians struggling with the heartbreak and hardships of infertility," said Joyce Murray, MP for Vancouver Quadra and the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Health. "They deserve better. They must have confidence that they can access care in a safe and ethical manner."

One of the much needed regulations would set a limit upon sperm donation by an individual and establish other guidelines for sperm donations.

"The United States is not the only place where sperm donors are producing dozens of children," said Liberal Health Critic Dr. Carolyn Bennett. "Canada also has donors with multiple offspring, and the Conservative government needs to take control of the situation."

Before restrictions were imposed by the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, Canadian fertility clinics had access to their own sperm banks, and set their own rules. In Montreal, for instance, the limit was about 20 pregnancies per donor and donors were not allowed to make more donations once that limit was reached.

"Because of the delay in regulation, there is no legal limit on the number of children one donor can produce, raising many public health and ethical questions," said Dr. Kirsty Duncan, M.P. for Etobicoke-North. "Canada must do everything necessary to ensure that once again, Canadians have access to sovereign sperm banks with appropriate regulations within our judicial reach."

While a court appeal from Quebec with respect to the Assisted Human Reproduction legislation is being heard by the Supreme Court today, a number of outstanding regulations will not be covered by this court challenge. The Standing Committee on Health also has a statutory responsibility to review the Act this spring even though they have not even seen the regulations from the 2004 Bill.

"The Liberal Party calls upon the Health Minister to immediately direct Health Canada to present the regulations to the Standing Committee on Health or present a new Bill that will rectify this untenable situation," added Dr. Bennett.

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