More can be done to support fertility to build a fair and healthy future for Canadians

Do you take your ability to start a family as a given? New data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that if you can conceive and carry a child to term without outside assistance, you are luckier than you might suspect. According to WHO, one in six adults worldwide experience infertility, and Canada is no exception. Members of the 2SLGBTQ2IA+ community and single people wanting to become parents also face barriers when starting a family, and many turn to fertility services to achieve their family-building goals. The importance of fertility treatment extends beyond individual desires, as it plays a crucial role in creating a healthy and inclusive society. In fact, fertility treatment contributes to a productive society, which is particularly relevant given Canada's current fertility rate of 1.41 births per child-bearer. This rate falls short of the 2.1 rate required to replace the population. Canada’s fertility rate has declined by 15 per cent since 2010, leaving us with hard choices about how to keep our economy producing value and our social safety net in good shape going forward. Carolynn Dubé is the executive director of Fertility Matters Canada, a founding leader of East Coast Miracles, and a vocal advocate for funding of publicly funded fertility treatments, having had three children conceived through assisted reproductive technology. Photograph courtesy of Fertility Matters Canada Recent data shows the profound negative impact that an infertility diagnosis can have on an individual’s well-being, including anxiety, depression, productivity at work and activities of daily living, as well as interpersonal and intimate relationships. According to research, the psychological symptoms associated with infertility are similar to those associated with other serious medical conditions, such as cancer. When you become aware of the complex sequelae of negative effects associated with fertility issues, the more it becomes clear that fertility treatment is a necessity rather than a luxury in Canada in 2023. Emilie Simard, aged 39, of Quebec City, is an aspiring single mom. For the past two years, she has been trying to conceive on her own with the help of in vitro fertilization (IVF), the only option given to her by her medical team. While the province of Quebec covers one round of IVF, she still spent $5,000 out of her own pocket and has no baby in her arms. Emilie has a good job with a great salary, and still cannot afford to spend upwards of $20,000 on IVF treatment and other associated costs of another cycle of IVF in an attempt to become a mom. “I’m not getting younger. Having a baby is a dream and it’s not supposed to be about money, but for me it is.” Fertility treatment is highly effective; however, IVF care can cost between $10,000 and $20,000 per cycle, and many will need more than one cycle to take home a baby, as is the case for Emilie. Too often, this puts fertility treatment into the hands of those who are more affluent, and out of reach for thousands. The Canada Health Act sets out this goal for health policy in Canada: “…to protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers.” The Canada Health Act gives the provinces some leeway in deciding which procedures to cover with health insurance. Some provinces offer partial coverage for fertility treatment, others do not, leaving a large inequity in access to health care. When fertility treatments aren’t covered by provincial health insurance, two of the pillars of health-care delivery in Canada as set out by the Canada Health Act are violated: universality and accessibility. All Canadian residents should have access to insured medical care, without financial barriers. We shouldn’t accept this for ourselves, our families, or our country. Here is the good news. Compassion leads the way to good policy for everyone. If we have compassion for Emilie, and so many others in a similar situation, that compassion helps us make our communities more inclusive, equitable, and more productive in the future. The federal government has recognized the crucial importance of reproductive health by substantially increasing support both internationally and within Canada. Furthermore, the government mandates the ministers of Health, and Women and Gender Equality, to work towards establishing a funding mechanism for IVF. I believe—as the prime minister is fond of saying—more can be done. We can advocate for a National Fertility Strategy in Canada and ensure that the principles of universality and accessibility, as outlined in the Canada Health Act, are respected by all provinces. I invite you to join forces with me and Fertility Matters Canada in advocating for public policy and financial support of fertility care in Canada, which promises to make a significant difference in the lives of current and future generations. We must urge our representatives to ensure that every resident of Canada, regardless of financial circumstances, family arrangements, race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or disability can access the fertility care they need to achieve their family-forming goals. We must strive for a Canada where the gift of life is not a privilege of the few, but a right of the many. It is time for action on affordable, equitable access to fertility care in Canada—because everyone deserves the chance to build a family. Carolynn Dubé is the executive director of Fertility Matters Canada, a founding leader of East Coast Miracles, and a vocal advocate for funding of publicly funded fertility treatments, having had three children conceived through assisted reproductive technology. The Hill Times

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More can be done to support fertility to build a fair and healthy future for Canadians

We can advocate for a National Fertility Strategy in Canada and ensure that the Canada Health Act's principles of universality and accessibility are respected by all provinces. The gift of life should be a right, not a privilege.

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