BC Council for Families

In the 21st century, creating a family can include technological options as well as adoption and many other methods. Successful attempts by the limited number of couples who have been able to afford it, has brought assisted reproduction into the mainstream. Governments are now learning to incorporate it into their services and policies as a relevant family planning method.

Ontario provides a unique and interesting specimen of how one province is laying the ground rules for fair and ethical services in this area. This past August, the province saw the release of “Raising Expectations: Recommendations of the Expert Panel on Infertility and Adoption”. The top concerns for Ontario are to:

• Educate the public on the biology of fertility and the factors affecting it.
• Increase safety and care standards through accreditation and guidelines for clinics and programs.
• Reduce the cost barrier through funding and increase access for single people and same-sex couples.
• Manage the health risks and health care costs of high multiple birth rates.

The recommendations include funding up to three cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF), as Quebec recently announced it will begin in 2010. The panel also recommends setting target reductions in multiple birth rates for clinics.

By creating better policies to govern assisted reproduction, Ontario hopes to make this a safer and standardized family planning option for everyone. While these recommendations address immediate, physical concerns, the long-term implications for families remain a growing and controversial area. The Infertility Awareness Association of Canada provides updates on this and other developments in assisted reproduction in Canada.