Bill 209 explained in plain English

Bill 209 designates April of each year as Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice Month in Ontario.

Bill 209 is a short legislative measure that proclaims April as Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice Month in Ontario each year. The bill's preamble notes that Black mothers in Ontario and Canada experience significantly worse maternal health outcomes than mothers in other groups, including being approximately three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. The preamble identifies structural racism, medical bias, and barriers to healthcare access as contributing factors to these disparities, particularly for Black women experiencing poverty, unstable housing, food insecurity, or violence. The bill states that designating April as this observance month is intended to raise awareness of the challenges Black women face in accessing adequate maternal healthcare and to help ensure that the wellbeing of Black mothers becomes a focus of Ontario's healthcare system. The act came into force immediately upon receiving Royal Assent and applies each year going forward.