Federal Fertility Funding
2025 Commitments and Policy Updates
The Canadian federal government has proposed several updates and new measures related to fertility care, reproductive health, and family-building support. These measures, included in the 2025 election platform of the Liberal Party of Canada, reflect a growing national interest in improving access to assisted reproduction, adoption support, and maternal health research.
Proposed Measures and Funding Initiatives (2025)
1. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as an Eligible Health Expenditure
The federal government has stated its intention to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Act to ensure that IVF becomes an eligible health expenditure. This change would allow individuals undergoing IVF to claim the procedure as part of their health-related tax deductions, subject to eligibility under the Canada Revenue Agency’s guidelines.
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Source: Liberal Party of Canada Platform 2025
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Reference: Liberal 2025 Platform
2. Expanded Medical Expense Tax Credit for Surrogacy
The platform also includes a pledge to expand the Medical Expense Tax Credit to include reimbursements made to surrogate mothers for IVF-related expenses. This is intended to reduce the financial burden on intended parents pursuing surrogacy, particularly those from LGBTQ2+ communities for whom surrogacy may be the primary family-building option.
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Source: Liberal Party of Canada Platform 2025
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Reference: Canada Revenue Agency – Medical Expense Tax Credit
3. National IVF Support Program
A new national IVF funding program has been proposed, offering up to $20,000 for a single standard IVF cycle. If implemented, this program would represent one of the largest federal investments in fertility care, aiming to create more equitable access across provinces and territories where coverage varies significantly.
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Source: Liberal Party of Canada Platform 2025
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Reference: Liberal 2025 Platform
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Context: Currently, provincial support for IVF varies widely. For example, Ontario, BC and Quebec offers one funded IVF cycle per patient, while other provinces offer limited or no public funding.
4. Enhanced Leave for Adoptive Parents
The government has also committed to providing an additional 15 weeks of parental leave for adoptive parents, aligning their benefits more closely with those available to biological parents. This measure is intended to support bonding and transition time for families formed through adoption.
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Source: Liberal Party of Canada Platform 2025
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Reference: Employment and Social Development Canada – Parental Benefits | More choice for parents
Broader Sexual and Reproductive Health Commitments
Additional proposed investments include:
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Permanently establishing the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund, which supports community-based organizations that improve access to abortion and reproductive health services, particularly in underserved communities. (Source: Liberal 2025 Platform)
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Investments in maternal and reproductive health research, including studies on postpartum mental health, menopause, endometriosis, maternal mortality, stillbirth, and perinatal health outcomes. (Source: Liberal 2025 Platform)
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Expanded data collection to support evidence-based improvements in reproductive care. (Source: Liberal 2025 Platform)
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Sources:
Current Status and Next Steps
These commitments were outlined in the Liberal Party’s 2025 election platform and are subject to legislative and budgetary implementation. As of May 2025, these policies are not yet in effect and remain under development or review. CFAS will continue to monitor government actions related to fertility policy and provide updates as new legislation or funding becomes available.
Disclaimer
This summary is intended to provide a factual overview of proposed federal fertility-related policies based on publicly available information. CFAS remains a non-partisan organization and does not endorse any political party.