BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF RELATED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS

BILL C-56:  AN ACT RESPECTING ASSISTED
HUMAN REPRODUCTION*

BACKGROUND

Bill C-56, An Act respecting Assisted Human Reproduction, was introduced by the Minister of Health in the House of Commons on 9 May 2002. Based on the federal criminal law power, it would prohibit certain activities and would regulate others with respect to assisted human reproduction and related research. The Government has stated that this comprehensive legislation will protect the health and safety of Canadians using assisted human reproduction (AHR), will prohibit unacceptable practices, and will regulate AHR activities and related research.

Since 1989, when the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies was created by the federal government, Canada has been attempting to define the proper legislative and regulatory controls to govern AHR.  In 1993, the Royal Commission produced its report entitled Proceed with Care, recommending immediate regulation to protect the interests of all Canadians.  In 1995, the Minister of Health announced an interim voluntary moratorium on several activities of concern, such as human cloning and paying surrogate mothers.  Bill C-47, the proposed Human Reproductive and Genetic Technologies Act that was introduced in Parliament in 1996, would have prohibited specified activities, but it would not have set out a clear mechanism for regulating other activities that could be carried out under prescribed conditions.  This legislation later died on the Order Paper at the call of the 1997 federal election.

On 3 May 2001, the Minister of Health invited the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health to conduct a full review of the Government of Canada’s Proposals for Legislation Governing Assisted Human Reproduction.  In December 2001, the Health Committee tabled its report and, among its multiple recommendations, requested that legislation be introduced on a priority basis.

Bill C-56, the proposed Assisted Human Reproduction Act (short title), incorporates many but not all of the Committee’s recommendations.  One significant change recommended by the Committee and reflected in the proposed Act is the establishment of a regulatory body to license, monitor and enforce the Act.  The Act would also prohibit a range of activities deemed by many Canadians to run contrary to human dignity or societal values, while permitting certain other activities to be carried out, subject to governmental regulation and oversight.

DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS

   A.  Declaration of Principles (Clause 2)

Clause 2 outlines six principles that apply in the regulation of the proposed Assisted Human Reproduction Act, namely:

• the benefits of AHR and related research can be most effectively secured when appropriate measures are taken for protecting and promoting human health, safety, dignity and rights;

• the health and well-being of children born through AHR must take priority when making decisions respecting the use of AHR technologies;

• while AHR technologies affect all persons, women, more than men, are directly and significantly affected by their application;

• the principle of free and informed consent is to be promoted and applied as a fundamental condition of the use of AHR technologies;

• the health and ethical concerns raised by trade in the reproductive capacities of women and men and the exploitation of children, women and men for commercial ends justify their prohibition; and

• human individuality and diversity, and the integrity of the human genome, are to be preserved and protected.

Because they are enshrined in a “statutory declaration” as opposed to a preamble, these principles have greater legal force than if they were set out in a preamble.

   B.  Interpretation and Application (Clauses 3 and 4)

Clause 3 sets out most of the definitions applicable to this Bill.   It includes crucial terms such as “donor,” “embryo,” “foetus” and “in vitro embryo,” and sets out several scientific terms such as  “chimera,” “genome,” “human clone” and “hybrid.”  These precise definitions are important to a fuller understanding of many clauses later in the Bill, particularly in reference to the “prohibited” and “controlled” activities.

Clause 4 makes the legislation apply to both the federal and the provincial Crown.

   C.  Prohibited and Controlled Activities (Clauses 5 to 13)

The Bill creates two broad categories of activities:

• “prohibited activities,” which must not be carried out under any circumstances; and

• “controlled activities,” which may be carried out but only in accordance with the legislation and the regulations.

      1.  Prohibited Activities

Clause 5 sets out most of the activities that are prohibited outright under the new legislation. The remaining prohibitions (i.e., those surrounding surrogacy, the purchase and sale of human gametes and embryos, the use of human material without the requisite consent, and the acquisition of gametes from minors) are contained in clauses 6 to 9.

Clause 5 prohibits the following activities:

• reproductive and therapeutic human cloning (clause 5(1)(a));

• creating in vitro embryos for any purpose other than creating a human being or improving or providing instruction in AHR procedures (clause 5 (1) (b));

• creating an embryo from the cell or part of a cell of an embryo or foetus for the purpose of creating a human being, or transplanting an embryo so created into a human being (clause 5(1)(c));

• maintaining an embryo for more than 14 days outside the woman’s body, minus any time during which its development is suspended (clause 5(1)(d));

• sex selection, except for preventing, diagnosing or treating sex-linked disorders or disease (clause 5(1)(e));

• germ-line genetic alteration, i.e., altering the genome of a cell of a human being or in vitro embryo such that the alteration is capable of being transmitted to descendants (clause 5(1)(f));

• transplanting a sperm, ovum, embryo or foetus of a non-human into a human being (clause 5(1)(g));

• using any human reproductive material previously in a non-human for the purpose of creating a human being (clause 5(1)(h));

• creating a chimera(1) or transplanting a chimera into either a human being or a non-human life form (clause 5(1)(i)); and

• creating hybrids(2) for the purpose of reproduction or transplanting a hybrid into either a human being or a non-human life form (clause 5(1)(j)).

Clause 5(2) and (3) prohibits anyone from offering to do or advertising the doing of any of the foregoing prohibited activities, or paying, or offering to pay, someone else to do so.

Clause 6(1) prohibits commercial surrogacy by making it an offence to pay, offer to pay or advertise to pay “consideration” to a female to act as a surrogate. Clause 6(2) prohibits intermediaries from accepting any consideration for arranging, offering, or advertising for arranging surrogacy.  Clause 6(3) prohibits any person from paying for, offering to pay for, or advertising the payment for an intermediary to arrange for a surrogacy.  Clause 6(4) prohibits any person from counselling or inducing a female believed to be under 18 years of age to become a surrogate.  It would also be an offence for anyone to  perform any medical procedure to assist such a minor to become a surrogate.

Clause 7(1) prohibits the purchase, offer to purchase or advertising for the purchase of sperm and ova. Clause 7(2), in turn, prohibits not only the purchase, offer to purchase or advertising for the purchase of in vitro embryos, but also their sale, offer for sale and advertising for sale.  Clause 7(3) further expands the prohibition to include the purchase, offer to purchase or advertising for the purchase of any human cell or gene for the purpose of creating a human being.  Finally, clause 7(4) defines “purchase” and “sell” as including exchanges for property or services.

Clause 8 deals with the requirement for written consent in using human reproductive material or in vitro embryos.  The regulations would specify the form and nature of the consent required.   Specifically, clause 8(1) prohibits the use of human reproductive material for the purpose of creating an embryo without the donor’s written consent.  Clause 8(2) prohibits the posthumous removal of human reproductive material for the purpose of creating an embryo without the deceased’s previous written consent, and clause 8(3) prohibits the use of in vitro embryos for any purpose, without the donor’s written consent.

Finally, clause 9 prohibits obtaining or using any sperm or ova from a donor under 18 years of age, except for the purpose of preserving them or for the purpose of creating a human being to be raised by the donor.

      2.  Controlled Activities

Clauses 10 to 12 make it an offence for anyone to carry out a “controlled activity” unless the activity is authorized by licence and is carried out in accordance with the regulations. The controlled activities are:

• the alteration, manipulation or treatment of any human reproductive material for the purpose of creating an embryo (clause 10(1));

• the alteration, manipulation, treatment or making use of an in vitro embryo (clause 10(2));

• the acquisition, storage, transfer, destruction, import or export of sperm or ova (or part thereof) for the purpose of creating an embryo, or of an in vitro embryo for any purpose (clause 10(3));

• the combination of any part or proportion of the human genome specified in the regulations with any part of the genome of a species specified in the regulations (clause 11); and

• the reimbursement of expenditures incurred a) by the donors of sperm or ova, b) in relation to the maintenance or transport of in vitro embryos, or c) by surrogate mothers in relation to the surrogacy. A receipt would be required in relation to these expenditures (clause 12(1) and (2)).

In addition, clause 13 makes it an offence for licensees to carry out a controlled activity in premises that are not licensed for that purpose.

   D.  Privacy and Access to Information (Clauses 14 to 19)

These clauses pertain mainly to the collection of health reporting information and its maintenance in a personal health information registry. The health reporting information, defined in clause 2, concerns the identity, personal characteristics, genetic information and medical history of three groups of people – donors of human reproductive material and in vitro embryos, persons who have undergone assisted reproduction procedures, and persons who were conceived by means of those procedures.   It also relates to information on the custody of donated human reproductive materials and in vitro embryos and the uses made of them.

Clauses 14 to 16 outline the requirements for licensees with respect to the health reporting information.  Under clause 14(1), licensees are required to collect the health reporting information specified in the regulations before accepting a donation or performing a controlled activity.  Clause 14(2)(a) requires the licensee to inform all relevant persons in writing of the requirements respecting the retention, use, provision and destruction of human reproductive material or in vitro embryos and the retention, use, disclosure and destruction of health reporting information before accepting a donation or accepting health reporting information.  Clause 14(2)(b) and (c) requires licensees to make counselling services available to the relevant persons, to the extent required by the regulations, and to obtain the written consent of the relevant persons regarding the handling of reproductive material and embryos, as well as the handling of health reporting information.

Clauses 15 and 16 set out the circumstances under which health reporting information must be or may be disclosed. Clause 16 also sets out the circumstances under which such information must be or may be destroyed.

Clause 17 requires the Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada, established by clause 21, to maintain a personal health registry containing the health reporting information.

Under clause 18(1), the Agency may use health reporting information, as well as other information relating to controlled activities, for the purposes of the administration and enforcement of the Act or for the identification of health and safety risks, potential and actual abuses of human rights, or ethical issues associated with AHR technologies.  Clauses 18(2) and (7), in turn, set out the circumstances under which the Agency may or must disclose the health reporting information under its control, and the conditions of disclosure.   As a rule, the health reporting information relating to a donor must be kept confidential unless the donor consents in writing to the disclosure (clause 18(2)). This rule, however, is subject to specified exemptions. For example:

• the Agency must, upon request, disclose to persons undergoing an AHR procedure or persons conceived by such means or their descendants, any “non-identifying” information relating to a donor unless the donor consents in writing to have his or her identity disclosed (clause 18(3));

• the Agency must disclose information on the nature of the relationship between any two individuals who believe that they are genetically related as a result of AHR and who apply in writing to the Agency to obtain the information (clause 18(4));

• the Agency must disclose health reporting information for the purpose of legal proceedings or to the extent required under federal and provincial health and safety laws specified in the regulations (clause 18(5)); and

• the Agency may disclose “non-identifying” information for scientific research or statistical purposes (clause 18(7)).

Clause 19 sets out the type of information that the Agency is required to make available for inspection by the public. Such information would be specified in the regulations and could include information relating to:  the Act; the Agency; policy directions issued by the Minister; activities related to licences; aggregated outcomes of assisted reproduction procedures; measures to prevent, reduce or mitigate threats to human health or safety from controlled activities; enforcement agreements; equivalency agreements; and reports and documents monitoring and evaluating applicable developments. The details and the manner of making the information available for inspection by the public would also be prescribed in the regulations.

   E.  Responsibility of the Minister (Clause 20)

The Minister is responsible for federal policy respecting assisted human reproduction and other related subject matter. He or she is also responsible for the Agency.

   F.  Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada (Clauses 21 to 39)

Clause 21 establishes the Agency (Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada) as a body corporate with a head office at a place in Canada to be designated by the Governor in Council.  The objectives of the Agency, outlined in clause 22, are:

• to protect and promote the health and safety, and the human dignity and human rights, of Canadians; and

• to foster the application of ethical principles.

The Agency is required by clause 23 to exercise its powers in a manner consistent with the principles set out in the statutory declaration in clause 2.

Clause 24(1) lays out the powers that the Agency may exercise.  These include:

• powers in relation to licences;

• advising the Minister;

• monitoring and evaluating developments in Canada and internationally;

• consulting persons and organizations;

• collecting, analyzing and managing health reporting information;

• providing information to the public and to professions;

• designating inspectors and analysts; and

• doing anything reasonably necessary or incidental to achieving the Agency’s objectives.

Under clause 24(2), at the Minister’s request, the Agency is also required to provide:  advice on issues pertaining to assisted human reproduction; non-identifying health reporting information; and general administration and management information about the Agency.  Under clause 25, the Minister is authorized to issue policy directives to the Agency concerning the exercise of any of its powers, and the Agency is required to give effect to them. Such policy directives, however, could not affect a matter already before the Agency and relating to a particular person.

Clauses 26 to 32 focus on appointment criteria, terms of office, composition, remuneration, and responsibilities of the board of directors of the Agency.   Thus, the board of directors may consist of no more than 13 members, including a Chairperson and the President of the Agency.   The membership must reflect a range of relevant backgrounds and disciplines, and members are appointed on a part-time basis for terms not exceeding three years (clause 26).   The board of directors is required to meet at least twice a year (clause 27).  The federal Deputy Minister of Health (or designated alternate) and equivalent or designated alternates from the provinces and territories are entitled to attend such meetings and speak to any matter under consideration (clause 28).

Clause 30 makes the board of directors responsible for the overall management of the Agency, including:  provision of advice to the Minister; approval of goals and operational policies; approval of the budget; and evaluation of performance.

Under clause 33, the board of directors may establish advisory panels, composed of board members or outside members, to examine, report on and make recommendations with respect to any issue referred to the panels by the board.

Both the Chairperson of the board of directors and the President of the Agency are to be appointed by the Governor in Council; the Chairperson for a term of not more than three years and the President for a term of not more than five years.   Both are eligible for reappointment (clauses 34 and 36).

   G.  Administration (Clauses 40 to 44)

Clause 40(1) gives the responsibility for issuing licences for controlled activities to the Agency. This power must be exercised in accordance with the regulations.  Clause 40(2) specifies that licences for research on in vitro embryos may be issued only if the Agency is satisfied the use of such embryos is necessary for the purpose of the proposed research.   Clause 40(3) covers the issuance of licences for clinical trials, while clause 40(4) specifies that each licence must designate an individual who is responsible under the Act.  Clause 40(5) allows for licences to be issued to the owner of a premise that is to be used to carry out a controlled activity by another licensed person.  Finally, clause 40(6) authorizes terms and conditions to be attached to licences, either at the time of issuance or at any time thereafter.

Clauses 41 and 42 allow for the amendment, renewal, suspension and revocation of licences, in accordance with the regulations.  Clause 43 states that the Agency, in exercising its licensing powers, may take into account any information or observations offered by any person, and may seek expert advice.  Such information and observations may be made available on request to the licensee or applicant as well as to the public.  However, identifying information concerning donors, persons conceived through AHR or clients of AHR may not be disclosed, except to an applicant or licensee if deemed necessary to support an application.  Persons offering information in good faith to the Agency for licensing decisions have immunity against civil and criminal proceedings related to the information given.

Clause 44(1) gives the Agency the power to take necessary measures to prevent, reduce or mitigate any threat to human health or safety resulting from, or expected to result from, a controlled activity.  In so doing, the Agency may allow an inspector to take over management of the premises in question, and costs incurred by the inspector become the responsibility of the licensee (clauses 44(2) and (3)).  Under clause 44(4), no person acting under this section may be held personally liable for those actions, unless carried out in bad faith.

   H.  Inspection and Enforcement (Clauses 45 to 59)

Clause 45 provides definitions of  “information” and “material,” which apply to this part of the Bill (inspection and enforcement) as well as to the regulatory powers set out in clause 65.

Clause 46 empowers the Agency to appoint inspectors for the purpose of enforcing the Act.  Inspectors must be appointed from among persons who are employed by the federal, provincial or territorial(3) governments or who have the qualifications specified in the regulations.

Clause 47 outlines the various powers of inspectors, which apply to controlled activities only. Clause 48 deals with warrants for a dwelling-house; clause 49, with obstruction, false statements and interference with inspectors; clause 50, with seizure, storage and removal of material or information. Under clause 51(1), an application may be made within 60 days for the restoration of seized material or information, and restoration may be ordered either immediately or later by a provincial court judge in accordance with the criteria set out in clause 51(2) and (3). Clause 52 specifies when seized material or information is forfeited to the Crown, and states that the Agency is responsible for directing the manner of its disposal.  In this connection, clause 54 requires the Agency to make reasonable efforts to preserve any viable sperm, ovum or in vitro embryo that is seized.  Their disposal may take place only:

• with the consent of the donor in the case of human reproductive material, or, in any other case, the consent of the responsible person, as defined in the regulations; or

• in the manner specified in the regulations, if the Agency is unable to identify or contact the donor or responsible person.

If the donor or responsible person does not provide consent, clause 54(3) permits the Agency to return the material to the donor or responsible person or to dispose of it in the manner specified in the regulations.

Clauses 55 to 57 deal with the designation and role of analysts, and the use of any analyst’s certificate in criminal proceedings.

Under clause 58, the Agency may enter into agreements with any department or agency of the federal government, a provincial or territorial government or with any law enforcement agency for the purpose of enforcing the Act.  Under clause 59, the Agency is authorized to provide assistance in the investigation and prosecution of offences under the Act.

   I.  Offences (Clauses 60 to 64)

Under clause 60, a contravention of sections 5 to 9 (prohibited activities) is punishable on conviction on indictment by a maximum fine of $500,000 or imprisonment for up to ten years, or both.  On summary conviction, a maximum fine of $250,000 may be imposed, or imprisonment for up to four years, or both.

Pursuant to clause 61, all other contraventions under the Act or regulations or of the terms and conditions of a licence are punishable on conviction on indictment by a maximum fine of $250,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.   On summary conviction, the punishment is a maximum fine of $100,000 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both.

Clause 62 gives a sentencing court additional powers to order the forfeiture and disposition of material or information related to the offence. Also, on application of the Attorney General of Canada, the sentencing court may order the offender not to engage in any activity that might lead to the commission of an offence under the Act.

Consent by the Attorney General of Canada is a prerequisite to any prosecution under the Act (clause 63).

Under clause 64, the Agency may notify “any interested authority,” such as a professional licensing or disciplinary body established under a federal, provincial or territorial law, of the identity of a person charged with an offence under the Act or who may have acted in breach of any professional code of conduct.

   J.  Regulations (Clauses 65 to 67)

Clause 65 sets out the Governor in Council’s regulatory powers.   Regulations may be made in relation to 26 different matters, most of which supplement specific provisions of the Act. Notably, regulations may be made:

• defining who is a “donor” in relation to an in vitro embryo (clause 65(1)(a));

• governing the consent to be given for the use of human reproductive material or of an in vitro embryo, or for the purpose of removing human reproductive material intended to be used for the purposes of clause 8 (i.e., using human reproductive material to create an embryo or using an in vitro embryo for any purpose) (clause 65(1)(b));

• designating controlled activities or classes of controlled activities for which licences may be issued under clauses 10 and 11 (i.e., altering, manipulating or treating any human reproductive material for the purpose of creating an embryo; altering, manipulating, treating or making use of an in vitro embryo; storing, transferring, importing, etc., an in vitro embryo for any purpose, or human sperm or ova for the purpose of creating an embryo; or combining any part of the human genome with any part of the genome of another species) (clause 65(1)(c));

• specifying the reasonable expenditures that may be reimbursed under clause 12 (i.e., to donors, surrogate mothers and in relation to the maintenance or transport of in vitro embryos) (clause 65 (1) (e));

• respecting the terms and conditions of licences (clause 65(1)(g));

• respecting the issuance of licences for clinical trials of a controlled activity under clause 40(3), the conduct of such trials and related consent issues (clause 65(1)(h));

• respecting the issuance, amendment, renewal, suspension, restoration, and revocation of licences (clause 65(1)(j));

• respecting the collection, use and disclosure of health reporting information (clause 65(1)(n));

• respecting the counselling services to be made available by licensees under clause 14(2)(b) in relation to the donation of human reproductive material or an in vitro embryo or the provision of health reporting information (clause 65(1)(o));

• respecting the destruction by licensees of health reporting information, human reproductive material or in vitro embryos under clause 16(2) or (3) (clause 65(1)(r));

• specifying the information to be made available for inspection by the public under clause 19 and the manner of its availability for inspection (clause 65 (1)(t));

• prescribing the manner in which the Agency must dispose of human reproductive material, an in vitro embryo or a foetus (or any part thereof) under clause 54(2) or (3) (clause 65(1)(x));

• fixing an expiry date for the “grandfathered” controlled activities that could be carried out without a licence under clause 71 (clause 65(1)(y)); and

• specifying the controlled activities or classes of controlled activities that may be exempted from the provisions of the Act, and prescribing related terms and conditions (clause 65(1)(z)).

Clause 65(2) to (4) allows the regulations to incorporate any document by reference, including any amendments made to it from time to time; however, such incorporation by reference does not necessarily make a document a regulation within the meaning of the Statutory Instruments Act.  Also, such documents, when available in both official languages, must have all subsequent amendments available in both languages before they are incorporated.

Clause 66 pertains to the parliamentary scrutiny of regulations. Subject to the exceptions set out in clause 67, clause 66 requires the Minister to lay proposed regulations before both Houses of Parliament.  Such regulations may be referred to the appropriate committee of each House, which will have 60 calendar days within which to review them and report its findings.   Upon expiry of this period, or at any earlier time when the committees have reported back, the proposed regulations may be made.   If the regulations do not incorporate a recommendation made by the committee of either House, the Minister must lay before that House a statement of the reasons for not incorporating it.  Any proposed regulation laid before Parliament need not be laid before Parliament again, whether it has been altered or not.

Clause 67, however, allows regulations not to be laid before Parliament if the Minister is of the opinion either that the change to an existing regulation is immaterial or insubstantial, or that the regulation must be made immediately to protect the health or safety of any person.  In such cases, the Minister must lay an explanatory statement before each House.

   K.  Equivalency Agreements (Clauses 68 and 69)

Clauses 68 and 69 allow the provinces and territories to pass their own legislation and regulations related to assisted human reproduction as long as they are equivalent to the specified parts of this Act. Equivalency agreements, however, may not be entered into in relation to the prohibited activities under clauses 5 to 9 (as opposed to the controlled activities under clauses 10 to 13).

Specifically, clause 68 permits the Governor in Council to declare the non-application of certain sections of the Act in a province or territory if the Minister and the provincial or territorial government agree in writing that equivalent laws are in force in that jurisdiction.  Such agreements will apply for five years or less and may be renewed.  The Agency, however, may still take measures to prevent, reduce or mitigate any threats to human health or safety resulting from a controlled activity.  Furthermore, even if such agreements are in place, persons carrying out an activity that is a controlled activity under the federal Act must comply with specified health reporting information requirements under the federal legislation. Finally, under clause 69, either party may terminate such an agreement upon giving six months written notice.

   L.  Parliamentary Review (Clause 70)

Clause 70 calls for a parliamentary review of the Act by any committee of the House or Senate, or both, established or designated for that purpose. The review must be carried out within three years of the coming into force of clause 21 (establishment of the Agency) and the ensuing report must be tabled within one year, or such other period that may be authorized.

   M.  Transitional Provision (Clause 71)

Clause 71 exempts from the licensing requirements any person who undertakes a controlled activity at least once during the period of one year preceding the coming into force of the provisions respecting controlled activities under clauses 10 to 13. Such “grandfathered” activities may be continued until such time as may be fixed by the regulations.

   N.  Consequential Amendments (Clauses 72 to 77)

These clauses require changes to several existing federal statutes as a consequence of the passage and coming into force of this legislation.

   O.  Coming into Force (Clause 78)

Clause 78 states that the Act comes into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.

COMMENTARY

The federal government has presented Canadians with a comprehensive piece of legislation that contains prohibitions and regulatory controls over assisted human reproduction activities and related research.  As the chronology below outlines, this legislation has been a goal of the federal government for the last decade.

In the days following the introduction of the legislation, media reports were mixed.  One commented favourably on the effort of the government to balance “along the line separating the relentless advance of science from the inherent dignity of human life.”(4) Another noted that while the ethics of using “spare” in vitro embryos for stem-cell research was a hot topic, the debate had also “drawn welcome attention to the fertility problems of thousands of Canadians.”(5) Yet another argued that, by continuing to permit anonymous donations, the legislation compounded the mistake made by many provincial adoption laws and left resulting children to feel “the same acute lack of connectedness” as adopted children.(6)

When presenting this legislation, the Minister of Health thanked the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health for its part in consulting with Canadians and for conducting a full review of earlier draft legislation.  In a prepared response to the question of how this legislation differs from the recommendations made by the Standing Committee, it was noted that “the bulk and spirit” of the recommendations had been accepted.(7)  The response went on to say:  “It was only for the most compelling reasons – such as Charter considerations, important governance concerns, operational realities and concerns that the availability of AHR services not be compromised – that some of the Standing Committee’s recommendations were not incorporated.”

One particularly controversial aspect of the Bill concerns the authorization of research using in vitro embryos, embryos created as a result of assisted conception techniques and existing outside the body of a human being, that are not used for producing a child.  Proponents argue that the embryos that are not implanted should be put to beneficial use rather than simply being discarded.  Opponents question the actions of clinics in producing excessive numbers of embryos and assert that their use in research puts them in the same category as commodities.

Overall, the majority of comments have been positive about the tabling of legislation in this area.  Many appear pleased to see prohibitions on practices that are deemed unacceptable by many Canadians and to know that better protection and information will be available to the infertile and others involved in the area of assisted human reproduction.

BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF RELATED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS

1989 – The Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies was established.

1993 – The Royal Commission made 293 recommendations, the majority requiring action by the federal government.

1993-1996 – A Federal/Provincial/Territorial Working Group on Reproductive and Genetic Technologies (RGT) was established with Health Canada support to advise the Deputy Ministers of Health.

1995 – A voluntary moratorium on specific RGTs was announced by the Minister of Health.

1996 – The Advisory Committee on Reproductive and Genetic Technologies was established by the Minister of Health to advise Health Canada on moratorium compliance and other developments.

1996 – Regulations for the processing and distribution of semen for assisted conception were implemented by Health Canada.

1996 – Bill C-47, the proposed Human Reproductive and Genetic Technologies Act, was introduced by the Minister of Health to prohibit specified reproductive and genetic practices.

1996 – A discussion paper entitled New Reproductive and Genetic Technologies:  Setting Boundaries, Enhancing Health was released by Health Canada, proposing a regulatory framework for national standards on permissible practices.

1997 – Bill C-47 died on the Parliament of Canada Order Paper at the call of the 1997 federal election.

1998 – The Tri-Council Policy Statement:  Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans was produced by the Medical Research Council, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

1999 – An overview paper on reproductive and genetic technologies was prepared by Health Canada to further the discussion on the proposed approach and management of a regulatory framework.

2000 – Health Canada released a discussion paper that outlined options for potential legislation, including both prohibited and regulated practices.

2001 – The Government of Canada’s Proposals for Legislation Governing Assisted Human Reproduction were presented for study to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health.  The Committee issued its report in December 2001.