2002:04PU NEW REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Whereas: in 1989 the National Council of Women of Canada urged the Government of Canada to establish a National Council on bioethics; and
Whereas: 11 years have elapsed since the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies (NRT) chaired by Patricia A. Baird toured Canada and held hearings across Canada at a cost to Canadian taxpayers of $28 million; and
Whereas: legislation introduced in May 2002 deals with some of the recommendations of the Commission, and draft legislation on NRTs (now referred to as Assisted Human Reproduction or AHR) was introduced in Parliament in 2001 and considered by the Parliamentary Committee on Health; and
Whereas: there is a growing trade for fetal organs and tissue, raising concern over the source of such tissue and of pressure on women undergoing abortion to consent to donate their fetus which is then used for research in tax-funded laboratories, including ones in Canada; and
Whereas: the National Council of Women submitted a detailed brief to the Royal Commission on NRT and has continued to request action on this matter, most recently in a brief on Assisted Human Reproduction submitted in 2001; and
Whereas: legislation is urgently needed to ensure that NRTs come under government control rather than being left to the biotechnology industry to control; and
Whereas: Canadians have a right to know what actions the Government of Canada has taken or proposes to take with respect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on AHR; therefore be it
RESOLVED: that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy the need for the Government to provide to the public an accountability report on actions and proposals for implementing the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies; and
RESOLVED: that the National Council of Women of Canada reiterate resolution 2000.3EM entitled Regulation of Reproductive and Genetic Technologies to the Government of Canada requesting the establishment of a national bio-ethics Council to:
a. advise the Government of Canada, the provinces and territories on which matters to legislate;
b. set standards of practice and license clinics to carry out procedures;
c. monitor compliance with regulations and standards of quality; and be it further
RESOLVED: that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to issue an accountability report to the Canadian people on the actions and proposals for implementing the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies.