Bill S-216 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. MP vote breakdowns appear when the House of Commons publishes a recorded division export for that bill. Senate and House stage details include official debate/sitting links when LEGISinfo publishes them.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
This bill amends the Assisted Human Reproduction Act to decriminalize certain payments related to sperm or ovum donation and surrogacy, and to allow for the purchase of other human reproductive materials.
Bill S-216, also known as An Act to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, proposes changes to the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. The bill aims to decriminalize payments for sperm or ovum donation and for surrogacy under certain conditions, and to allow for the purchase of other human reproductive materials. It also repeals certain provisions related to the prohibition of payments for sperm or ovum donation and for surrogacy arrangements.
- It amends the Assisted Human Reproduction Act to permit payment for sperm or ovum donation and for surrogacy in specific circumstances.
- It allows for the purchase of other human reproductive materials.
- It removes certain prohibitions related to payment for sperm or ovum donation and surrogacy arrangements.
- Individuals seeking to donate sperm or ova.
- Individuals seeking to become surrogate mothers.
- Individuals or couples seeking assisted reproduction services.
- Entities involved in arranging or facilitating human reproduction.
- Individuals or entities involved in the purchase or sale of human reproductive materials.
- Regulated bodies under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.
- The bill potentially creates new circumstances under which payments for sperm or ovum donation and surrogacy may be permissible, effectively altering existing prohibitions.
- The bill clarifies conditions under which counseling or inducing individuals for sperm/ovum donation or surrogacy is prohibited (e.g., age, consent, coercion).
- The Act comes into force 180 days after receiving royal assent.
- The bill decriminalizes payment for sperm or ovum donation and surrogacy in certain circumstances, which may have financial implications for individuals and service providers in this area. The specifics of these financial impacts are not detailed in the provided text.
- The bill amends the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, which contains provisions for enforcement and penalties. While the bill itself does not detail new penalties, the changes to the Act could affect how existing enforcement mechanisms apply. Specific penalties related to the previous prohibitions are not elaborated upon in the provided text.
- The bill refers to 'certain circumstances' for permitted payments without providing explicit details within the provided text. The full scope of these circumstances would likely be defined in regulations.
- The specific details of 'other human reproductive material' that can be purchased are not defined in the provided text.
- The nature of the expenditures for which reimbursement is permitted under the amended Section 12(1) of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act is limited to 'maintenance or transport of an in vitro embryo', with other reimbursement categories from the original Section 12(1) being removed.
- The exact nature of the provisions repealed in Section 65(1)(e.1) is not specified in the provided text, making the full impact of its removal unclear without reference to the original Act.
Removes the prohibition on trade in the reproductive capabilities of women and men for commercial ends, and the exploitation of children, women, and men for commercial ends, by amending Section 2 to remove paragraph (f) which previously stated these were health and ethical concerns justifying prohibition. It also adds 'and' to the end of paragraph (e) which deals with non-discrimination in assisted reproduction procedures.
Source: Section 1 and Section 2(1) of the Bill
Replaces Section 6 of the Act, which previously prohibited paying consideration to a female person to be a surrogate mother, offering to pay, or advertising such payments. The new Section 6, as described in the bill text, focuses on prohibitions against counseling or inducing a female to become a surrogate mother under certain conditions (under 21, incapable of consent, or coerced). The previous prohibition on payment is removed by implication through the replacement of the section.
Source: Section 2 of the Bill
Replaces Subsection 7(1) of the Act, which previously prohibited purchasing, offering to purchase, or advertising the purchase of sperm or ova. The new Subsection 7(1) prohibits counseling or inducing a person to donate sperm or ova, or performing medical procedures to assist donation, if the person is under 18, incapable of consenting, or being coerced. Subsection 7(3) of the Act, which prohibited the purchase of human cells or genes for the purpose of creating a human being, is repealed.
Source: Section 3 of the Bill
Replaces Subsection 12(1) of the Act. The original subsection prohibited reimbursement for expenditures related to sperm or ovum donation, maintenance or transport of an in vitro embryo, or surrogacy, except as allowed by regulations. The new subsection 12(1) prohibits reimbursement for expenditures incurred in the maintenance or transport of an in vitro embryo, except in accordance with regulations. Subsection 12(3) of the Act is repealed.
Source: Section 4 of the Bill
Repeals paragraph 65(1)(e.1) of the Act. The specific content of this repealed paragraph is not detailed in the provided text, but its repeal is part of the bill's amendments.
Source: Section 5 of the Bill
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textParliamentary Process
Bill S-216, aiming to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, completed its first reading in the Senate on February 20, 2020, and was debated at second reading on March 12, 2020.
This record shows that Bill S-216, an Act to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, completed its first reading in the Senate on February 20, 2020. The bill was later debated at second reading on March 12, 2020.
The Senate of Canada proceeded with the first reading of Bill S-216, an Act to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, during a sitting that also included various statements, question period exchanges, and debates on other matters.
On February 20, 2020, the Senate of Canada held its first reading of Bill S-216, an Act to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. This procedural step involved the introduction of the bill. The sitting also included statements from senators on various topics, including a world record marathon achievement, political courage, recognizing the late Christine Wilson, and support for children and youth. Routine proceedings involved tabling of Supplementary Estimates (B) for 2019-20 and notices of motions regarding committee membership and study of these estimates. Question Period addressed issues such as blockade protests, support for athletes, rights of Indigenous women, ferry travel in New Brunswick, and government policy on Africa. Several other items were debated or adjourned, including motions regarding committee membership, adjournment, and various inquiries and bills related to the Criminal Records Act, Arctic issues, modern slavery, and resource extraction impacts. The sitting concluded with the Senate adjourning until February 25, 2020.
Bill S-216, concerning amendments to the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, reached its second reading stage in the Senate on March 12, 2020, where debate and a sponsor's speech took place.
This artifact describes the stage of Bill S-216, An Act to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, at its second reading in the Senate on March 12, 2020. The bill had its first reading on February 20, 2020. The record indicates that debate occurred at this second reading stage, and a sponsor's speech was given by Senator Lucie Moncion. The stage was not completed on this date. The artifact also mentions a similar bill, C-404, introduced in a previous Parliament, which also aimed to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.
The Senate sat on March 12, 2020, engaging in statements, tabling reports, question period on various topics including the coronavirus, and continuing debate on several bills, including Bill S-216 to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.
On March 12, 2020, the Senate of Canada convened for a sitting that included various procedural activities and debates. The Senate heard statements on Francophonie Month, challenges in the beef industry, and recognized deceased individuals. Routine proceedings involved tabling reports from the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the Commissioner of Lobbying, the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. A motion concerning the Senators Attendance Policy was adopted. During Question Period, senators raised concerns and asked questions regarding international travel restrictions, coronavirus screening at airports, coronavirus preparedness, support for workers affected by coronavirus measures, Arctic sovereignty, availability of medical supplies, fiscal stimulus, and managing healthcare staff. The Senate also addressed delayed answers to oral questions concerning BSE status and support for the beef and dairy industries, and tabled answers to written questions. The sitting concluded with the adoption of motions to adjourn and motions concerning committee reports on Modernizing the Official Languages Act and Open Banking, after which the Senate adjourned until March 24, 2020. Crucially, the Senate also began the second reading debate on Bill S-216, An Act to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, with Senator Lucie Moncion introducing the bill and outlining its proposed changes. Debate on this bill, as well as Bill S-211 (Modern Slavery Act) and Bill S-215 (Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act), was continued.
In the Senate, Senator Lucie Moncion sponsored Bill S-216 to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, advocating for the decriminalization of commercial surrogacy and gamete donation, while Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne raised concerns about the ethical implications, leading to an adjourned debate.
During a Senate sitting on March 12, 2020, Senator Lucie Moncion sponsored Bill S-216, an Act to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. Senator Moncion delivered a speech in support of the bill, arguing for the decriminalization of commercial surrogacy and gamete donation. She presented arguments that the current law, which criminalizes payment for these services, is based on outdated ideologies and lacks empirical evidence, leading to unintended consequences such as the exploitation of women in other countries and legal uncertainty within Canada. Senator Moncion proposed that allowing regulated compensation would better protect all parties involved, promote equality, and increase the supply of donors and surrogates within Canada. She also highlighted inconsistencies in the current legislation and the provinces' roles in regulation. Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne, while acknowledging the complexity of the issue and her own past stance, expressed concerns about commercialization and the potential commodification of children and women's bodies, suggesting that having a child is not a right. The debate on Bill S-216 was adjourned.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for First reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Consideration in committee yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Report stage yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
Debate and sitting links point to official parliamentary sources when LEGISinfo publishes them. Any plain-language discussion summaries should be generated from those official texts and reviewed before public display.
Vote Summary
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
This bill is still moving through the process. When a recorded division is published, representative positions can be listed here.
Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
How this data is sourced