The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights
and the
Health Law Group of the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto

Reference re. Assisted Human Reproduction Act
Implications of the Supreme Court’s Decision

November 4-5, 2011

Bennett Lecture Hall
Faculty of Law
University of Toronto
78 Queen’s Park Cres, Toronto, ON

The Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in the Reference re. the Assisted Human Reproduction Act this past spring, striking down some sections and leaving others intact on constitutional grounds. What does this mean for future practice and regulation in this area? What are the regulatory implications for other areas of law that have federal and provincial impacts? What does this mean for reproductive and privacy rights in Canada? How can Canada regulate this area in the global picture?

Keynote presentations included a dialogue between Preston Manning and Carolyn Bennett moderated by Steve Paikin of TVO’s The Agenda, and viewing of the CBC documentary Bio-Dad with producer Barry Stevens.

Speakers included Joseph Arvay, Timothy Caulfield, Françoise Baylis, Karen Busby, Bernard Dickens, Colleen Flood, Lisa Ikemoto, Juliet Guichon, Peter Hogg, Emily Jackson, Trudo Lemmens, Marilyn Pilkington, Carol Rogerson, Ian Lee, Clifford Librach, Erin Nelson, Marie-Claude Prémont, Glenn Rivard, Shirley Levitan, and Hoi Kong.

Topics covered included:

  • General overview of the case
  • Quebec’s arguments for the challenge
  • Use of the criminal law power Ethical dimensions of AHR; why is AHR practice different from general medical practice
  • AHRA and reproductive rights; rights of children
  • Implications for the current federal regulatory state
  • Current legal landscape and it practical implications for lawyers, medical practitioners and families
  • International perspectives

Registration Fee: $200.00 (reduced rates for government and NGOs ($100) and students ($35)):