Summary from Vancouver Sun, April 5, 2026 by Sharon Kirkey
This bill recently under consideration in Parliament makes forced or coerced sterilization of women a criminal assault that could result in up to 14 years in prison for the attending physician. According to Senator Yvonne Boyer, assault laws are on the books, but “they’ve never been used to prosecute forced sterilization.” Boyer sponsored the bill, and said, “That silence has allowed confusion, inconsistency and ultimately impunity.” The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada condemns the act of forced sterilization but states that criminalizing the procedure could put doctors at risk of prosecution if they intervened in life threatening emergencies and routine contraception procedures. This could then put women at risk because doctors would be reluctant to intervene. The Canadian Medical Association supports the bill.
Harmony Redsky, Survivors Circle executive director, said in an email, there would be no need for the bill “if forced and coerced sterilization wasn’t still happening.” The Survivors Circle claims that the bill doesn’t criminalize “lawful, medically necessary or consent-based care.” Indigenous groups support this bill.
Comment: by Lorri Rudland (author of Creative Works/Reviews/Indigenous Women Sterilized in Canada)
Assault laws in the Criminal Code could be used to prosecute in cases of forced or coerced sterilization, but the problem is they are not being used. This bill makes explicit the crime of forced or coerced sterilization, in the hope that authorities will then have enough clarity and direction to act.
As of this date, May 3, 2026, the bill is in the Report to Committee stage, and then will progress to Third Reading. I urge you to support this legislation.
Photo of Senator Yvonne Boyer, sponsor of Bill S – 228
