CBRC’s graphic novel, Your Family Your Way, outlines general information related to 2S/LGBTQ+ fertility and family planning in Canada. See below for supplemental information related to financial support, public versus private adoptions, and legal recognition by province.
Financial supports for fertility vary by province; use the drop down menu for more information on your region:
Alberta:
Alberta provides 15% tax credit on fertility related expenses; assessments and blood tests are covered under AHSP.
BC:
BC provides 15% tax credit on fertility related expenses, assessments and blood tests are covered under MSP.
Ontario:
Ontario has no limit to how many IUI cycles folks can access with OHIP. Medications are not covered. For IVF, one cycle is covered.
Manitoba:
Manitoba offers a 40% subsidy for treatments up to $20,000 ($8,000 maximum) , no limit to cycles; 15% tax credit.
New Brunswick:
New Brunswick has subsidies for up to 50% of the cost of treatments, up to $5,000, in addition to a 15% tax credit.
Newfoundland & Labrador:
Newfoundland & Labrador offers up to $5,000 in reimbursements for each IVF cycle, up to three cycles. They also offer a 15% Tax credit.
Nova Scotia:
Nova Scotia has a 40% tax credit for treatments on a maximum of $20,000 of expenses ($8,000 total in support), with no limit to cycles. They also offer a 15% federal tax credit.
Quebec:
Quebec’s Medically Assisted Reproduction Program (MARP) provides 1 IVF cycle, six donor inseminations, and fertility preservation.
Quebec also has temporary reimbursement of IVF for women who 'aged out' of MARP during COVID/in 2021-22. They also offer a 15% federal tax credit.
PEI:
PEI can provide $5,000-10,000 worth of subsidies for treatments depending on family income.
Saskatchewan:
Saskatchewan has a 15% federal tax credit on fertility expenses.
Nunavut, NWT, and the Yukon:
The territories offer 15% federal tax credits.
Your Family Your Way also deals with queer adoptions, and recent legal changes to how queer folks can build families. You can find more information below:
Learn more about public versus private adoptions:
Public Adoptions: These are mainly through Children’s Aid Societies and government institutions; wait-times can be long, sometimes years. There’s less discretion for the adoptive and birth parents. However, this is typically the most cost-effective option. Home studies are involved, and you’ll also have to provide a medical and criminal history.
Domestic Private Adoptions /Foster-to-Adopt: This is expensive, but more leeway is given to the adoptive family and the birth parents. It’s also very common for folks to foster children as a Segway to a permanent adoption. However, most foster placements don’t result in a permanent adoption, and the best interests of the child are the utmost priority. Wait times are much better – between one and three years - but this can be a very expensive option. There are also many agencies now that are sensitive to the changing needs of communities
More on queer family building and the law:
Similar to Ontario, the Family Law Act in BC and court rulings also allow for more than two parents to be listed on a child’s birth certificate. This is also possible in Saskatchewan. Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Manitoba, and Nunavut don’t have any explicit legal restrictions on multiple parents. Nova Scotia requires there to be a genetic connection between the parent and the child;. Quebec, PEI and Alberta only allow two parents to be recognized. Yukon requires for there to be a “mother” registered on birth certificates, although the government is in consultation to make their parenthood policies more inclusive. Recent changes in the NWT allow for up to four birth parents to be registered on birth certificates.
