OTTAWA — The Liberal government is introducing legislation to require charities that offer pregnancy counselling to disclose whether they also offer abortion and birth control or referral to these services.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland made the announcement today during her weekly news conference with other cabinet ministers, including Health Minister Mark Holland.
The government says it wants to crack down on anti-choice groups masquerading as organizations that offer full-service pregnancy supports, when in reality they push women away from accessing some services such as abortion.
If the legislation passes, organizations that don’t clearly disclose their services could lose their charitable status.
The Liberals have been increasingly vocal on abortion issues as they try to wedge the Conservatives — who have several anti-choice members of Parliament in their caucus — on an issue that’s at the centre of the U.S. election campaign.
To pass the legislation, the Liberals will need another opposition party to vote in favour of it.