Abortion and Canadian Law
1869 The Canadian Government criminalized abortion.
The penalty was life in prison.
1960's The Abortion law was challenged by medical and legal associations, social justice & women's groups. 1967 The Justice Minister of Canada presented a bill to liberalize the abortion law. Abortion would still be a crime, but a woman could apply for special permission from a therapeutic abortion committee of 3 doctors at a hospital. They would determine if her life or health was in danger. 1969 This bill became law under Section 251 of the Criminal Code. 1973 Dr. Henry Morgentaler announced that he had performed 5,000 illegal abortions outside hospitals without approval of a committee. He was convicted in 1975, re-tried in 1976 -- released and acquitted. 1975 The Parliament of Canada received "Petition of One Million" from Canadians demanding protection for the unborn.
1977 The Badgley Report, a survey commissioned by the Federal Government recommended further liberalization of the abortion law. 1982 The Canadian Charter of Rights, which denied the rights of the pre born child, became part of the new Constitution. 1983 The largest ever pro-life rally staged in Queens Park, Toronto with 40,000 in attendance
1988 January 28 - The Supreme Court of Canada decriminalized abortion. It stated that Canada's abortion law was unconstitutional in its entirety. It ruled that the criminal Cole violated Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) which guarantees the right to life, liberty and the security of the person.
(Remember: the unborn is NOT considered a person.)