October 22, 2025

October 21 

For Immediate Release 

Abortion impacts many people in the province and an opportunity for constructive dialogue should be welcomed.  

“Canada is the only democracy in the world that allows abortion for any reason at any stage of pregnancy”, said We Need a Law’s spokesperson, Naomi Meerstra. “While many in Canada claim the abortion debate as settled, this motion will invite discussion on an important human rights issue.”  

ARPA, the organization behind the We Need A Law campaign, encourages all MLAs to set their partisan goals aside and contribute to constructive dialogue on three policy issues in particular that are within provincial jurisdiction: parental involvement, ableism, and the discrimination inherent in abortion. 

Parental Involvement  

“Teenagers are required to involve their parents in many of the decisions they make,” Meerstra said. “This extends to medication, tattoos, and, in many parts of the country, tanning salons. Yet an abortion – a procedure that can impact a young woman for the rest of her life – can be done without any consent or even knowledge of her parent or guardian?”  

“Allowing teenagers to request and receive abortions when they lack the cognitive capacity to make such life-altering decisions is a disservice to them, potentially leaving them feeling more alone and rejected. It is good policy for the province to involve a minor’s parents in any health-care decision,” said Meerstra. 

Ableism 

Another area where ARPA Canada would welcome constructive debate in provincial politics is on the issue of ableism that can accompany prenatal diagnosis. “Pre-born children diagnosed with fetal abnormalities or disabilities, such as Down syndrome, are far more likely to be aborted than their fully abled counterparts,” Meerstra said. “This discrimination is a form of ableism; people should never be valued less because of disability. Provincial governments should consider regulations regarding the timing and use of ultrasound results to help prevent discrimination,” concluded Meerstra. 

Sex-Based Discrimination  

ARPA agrees with the recommendation found in a recent United Nations report titled Sex-based violence against women and girls: new frontiers and emerging issues that encourages jurisdictions to “enact and rigorously enforce laws prohibiting prenatal sex determination for non-medical purposes, sex-selective abortions and female infanticide.” 

In Canada, and around the world, girls are aborted at a higher rate than boys. In a country that claims to value equality, this is unacceptable. All people have equal value, regardless of their gender, and we need to recognize this from the earliest stages of life.   

“Provincial governments have the ability to protect women’s rights at the earliest stages,” said Meerstra. “ARPA calls on the province to regulate the use of ultrasound and other diagnostic technologies through the mandatory reporting of all prenatal scans and their medical justifications. Doing so ensures accountability, deters these practices and directly curbs the mechanisms enabling sex selection.”   

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For further comment, please contact ARPA Canada at [email protected] or at  

1-866-691-2772 

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