A Report on the Supports and Barriers of Surrogacy in Canada

The Assisted Human Reproduction Act regulates the practice of altruistic surrogacy in Canada, criminalizing monetary compensation yet permitting reimbursements for expenditures associated with pregnancy. Limited stipulations regarding permissible expenditures have created ambiguity for service users and providers. Despite these complexities, gestational surrogacy in Canada continues to proliferate. Yet, with limited empirical research in Canada, it is unclear how legislation has supported or hindered the practice of surrogacy. This paper reports on findings from a qualitative study that explored supports and barriers to surrogacy across six domains: (1) accessible surrogacy information, (2) surrogacy consulting services, (3) fertility clinic practices, (4) hospital policies, (5) public attitudes, and (6) federal legislation. Future practice and policy recommendations can encourage interdisciplinary dialogue to guide clinical practice and inform legislative action.