Compulsory sterilization in Canada

Compulsory sterilization in Canada is an ongoing practice that has a documented history in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.

Sixty Indigenous women in Saskatchewan sued the provincial government, claiming they had been forced to accept sterilization before seeing their newborn babies.[1] In June 2021, the Standing Committee on Human Rights in Canada found that compulsory sterilization is ongoing in Canada and its extent has been underestimated.[2] A bill was introduced to Parliament in 2024 to end the practice.[3]

Canadian compulsory sterilization operated via institutionalization, judgement, and surgery, similar to other nations at the time.

  1. ^ "Indigenous women kept from seeing their newborn babies until agreeing to sterilization, says lawyer". Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Ryckewaert, Laura (2024-03-25). "Senate bill seeking to criminalize forced sterilizations raises concerns over unintended consequences". The Hill Times. Retrieved 2024-08-18.