Canadian Senator calls for end to forced sterilization at U of R public lecture

Ontario Senator Yvonne Boyer was a featured speaker at a public lecture on ending forced and coerced sterilization in Canada. (Mick Favel / CTV News)

On Tuesday, students gathered at the University of Regina for a lecture on ending forced and coerced sterilization in Canada.

Ontario Senator Yvonne Boyer was a featured speaker.

In 2022, Boyer introduced Bill S-250, which could make it against the law to sterilize a person without their consent.

“This is not a thing of the past, this is happening today and it’s happening to people you know,” she said.

Enforced sterilization in Canada goes back nearly 100 years. In 1928, Alberta enacted the Sexual Sterilization Act, meant to stop the passing of undesirable traits.

Since then, sterilization has continued to happen, which has led to a handful of class-action lawsuits filed by survivors.

Boyer said ongoing forced sterilization is rooted in racism and discriminatory policies.

Earlier in 2024, a help group called Survivors Circle for Reproductive Justice was started to offer support to those impacted.

“They are looking at this issue from a holistic perspective. They are looking at healing, support and research,” Boyer said.

Bill S-250: An Act to amend the act to amend the Criminal Code (Sterilization Procedures), is currently before the House of Commons. If passed into law, it can carry upwards of 14 years in prison for those who sterilize someone without consent.

-With files from Maria Cheng and the Canadian Press