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e-4934 (Social affairs and equality)

E-petition
Initiated by Mary Annis from Cobble Hill, British Columbia

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada

Whereas:
  • Over 150 anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centres” (CPCs) in Canada work to dissuade pregnant people from having abortions via medical misinformation and emotional manipulation;
  • CPCs engage in deception by pretending to be legitimate, professional agencies that help people with accurate information on all their options, when most are Christian ministries that are biased against abortion;
  • CPCs often create deceptive websites and other materials that enable them to lure in unsuspecting clients and funders, infiltrate public schools to teach sexual health education, recruit practicum students from public universities, and get on referral lists at real medical clinics and social service agencies; and
  • Over 90% of CPCs have charitable status despite contravening charity guidelines and requirements as set out by the Canada Revenue Agency because they engage in biased and dishonest counselling.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
1. Pass a motion in Parliament that condemns the deceptive and manipulative tactics of anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centres,” including the medical misinformation they provide to clients; and
2. Fulfill its prior commitment to make CPCs ineligible for charitable status due to the false and misleading information they provide to vulnerable clients.

Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia Freeland

Canada's charitable sector is diverse and vibrant. From education to social support services, an estimated 86,000 registered charities engage in public benefit activities that touch almost every aspect of Canadian life. Registered charities are provided important supports under the tax system, including an exemption from income tax and the ability to issue official donation receipts for any gifts that they receive.

With these benefits, all registered charities are required to follow rules and principles set out in the Income Tax Act and common law, including ensuring the information that they provide is accurate and evidence-based. This includes registered charities that provide reproductive health services, who are required to provide accurate and evidence-based information to women with respect to their rights and options at all stages of their pregnancy. In this regard, the Government of Canada is committed to taking action to ensure that organizations that are not transparent about the services they provide to pregnant women are ineligible for charitable status, while respecting Canadians’ right to freedom of expression and freedom of conscience and religion under the Charter. All Canadians should have the information they need to freely make decisions over their own bodies and have access to the medical care and services that are their legal right.

Open for signature
April 18, 2024, at 3:25 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
August 16, 2024, at 3:25 p.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Pam Damoff (Oakville North—Burlington)
September 18, 2024 (Petition No. 441-02609)
Government response tabled
November 1, 2024
Photo - Pam Damoff
Oakville North—Burlington
Liberal Caucus
Ontario