Debate: Be it resolved: "The prohibition on payment for surrogacy and gametes in Canada should be repealed."

In 2004, the Canadian federal government enacted the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. An early constitutional challenge by Quebec resulted in the removal of many key components of that federal legislation. What remains of the legislation includes a prohibition against the commercialization of gametes and surrogacy.

Academic and investigative reports indicate that commercial sale of gametes and commercial surrogacy occurs within Canada and abroad, even though many countries prohibit, like Canada, commercial surrogacy or commercial sale of gametes.

During this event, two speakers will debate whether the current prohibition against the commercialization of gametes and surrogacy is required and/or justified. They will extensively engage with the audience on these issues. 

Thus, be it resolved: "The prohibition on payment for surrogacy and gametes in Canada should be repealed."

Arguing in favour:
Vida Panitch, Associate Professor, Carleton University’s Department of Philosophy

Arguing against:
Françoise Baylis, University Research Professor, Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine

Organized jointly between Health Law in Canada, the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, and the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation at the University of Toronto.

This event is part of the Mary and Philip Seeman Health Law, Policy and Ethics Seminar Series.

• Debate poster (PDF)

This debate is a prelude to the conference "Regulating Creation and the Assisted Human Reproduction Act"

Watch the video of the debate: