Assisted Human Reproduction Canada (AHRC) was a federal regulatory agency that was established in 2006 to protect and promote the health, safety, dignity and rights of Canadians who use or are born of assisted human reproduction technologies. AHRC was also responsible for fostering an environment in which ethical principles are applied in all matters related to assisted human reproduction, while supporting scientific advances that benefit Canadians. The agency was led by a President and governed by the Board of Directors, who were appointed by the Governor in Council in December 2006. The final head of the agency was President Dr. Elinor Wilson, who served from February 14, 2007 until September 30, 2012.
Contents
- Roles and responsibilities
- Governance
- The Assisted Human Reproduction Act
- Constitutional Challenge
- Prohibited activities
- Controlled activities
- History
- References
The Federal Budget of March 2012 made two references to AHRC:
- The Government will introduce legislation to wind down Assisted Human Reproduction Canada, with final closure of operations by March 31, 2013. The winding down of the Agency responds to the 2010 ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada that significantly reduced the federal role in assisted human reproduction. Health Canada will take over responsibility for any remaining federal functions such as compliance and enforcement, and outreach.
- Savings will also be achieved through organizational simplification. The Government will introduce legislation to wind down Assisted Human Reproduction Canada and will integrate it within Health Canada. A standalone agency for this reduced role is no longer justified. Health Canada will assume responsibility for compliance and enforcement related to federal responsibilities, and outreach activities.
AHRC’s mandate and responsibilities were set out in the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.
Roles and responsibilities
AHRC's responsibilities were set out in the Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHR Act). The Agency's essential functions included:
Governance
Assisted Human Reproduction Canada was established as a Departmental Corporation (Schedule II under the Financial Administration Act) and reported to Parliament through the Minister of Health. AHRC was governed by a Board of Directors of up to 13 members, including the Chairperson and the President. Board members are appointed by the Governor in Council.
The Board of Directors was responsible for the overall management of AHRC, including:
By law, the Board of Directors had to meet at least twice a year.
The Assisted Human Reproduction Act
The Assisted Human Reproduction Act respecting assisted human reproduction and related research is one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation in the world concerning reproductive technologies and related research. It was introduced and passed in 2004 and came fully into force by 2007.
Health Canada is responsible for developing policy related to assisted human reproduction and regulations under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. AHRC's role is to oversee the implementation of the Act and associated regulations.
The AHR Act was meant to provide Canadians with a system of licensing, monitoring, inspection and enforcement of activities relating to AHR in order to protect and promote Canadians’ health, safety and values. It identifies prohibited activities, as well as controlled activities, which are AHR activities that can be performed in Canada, but require a licence and adherence to the regulations. However, a 2010 Supreme Court case that ruled that certain sections of the Act exceeded the federal government's legislative power means that the scope of the Act's regulatory framework is significantly reduced (see below).
Constitutional Challenge
On December 22, 2010 the Supreme Court of Canada rendered an opinion that deemed some sections of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act unconstitutional. The advisory opinion, ruled that these sections, listed below, exceeded the legislative jurisdiction of the Parliament of Canada pursuant to the Constitution Act, 1867.
Void sections:
Prohibited activities
Prohibited activities, defined in sections 5 to 9 of the Act, are AHR activities that Parliament has determined to be ethically unacceptable or incompatible with Canadian values, or to pose significant risks to the health, safety and values of Canadians. These activities are not allowed in Canada. Prohibitions include:
Controlled activities
Controlled activities, set out in sections 10 to 12 of the Act, are AHR activities permitted if performed in accordance with regulations and by a licensed clinic or individual in licensed premises. However, section 10, which addressed the "use of human reproductive material," and section 11, which addressed "transgenics," were ruled ultra vires. Section 12, which addresses the "reimbursement of expenditures" for providing gametes and surrogacy services, is still in force.
History
In 1989, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney founded the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies. Commissioners spent four years examining assisted human reproduction (AHR) activities in Canada. They heard from 40,000 Canadians, including doctors, medical organizations, patients and other interested parties, before issuing their final report, “Proceed with Care,” in 1993. The report called on the Government of Canada to ban activities such as payment for sperm or eggs, commercial surrogacy and human cloning. It also recommended the establishment of an independent regulatory body to govern permissible AHR activities.
On March 29, 2004, Bill C-6, the Assisted Human Reproduction Act received Royal Assent and became law. Provisions of the Act come into force on the day fixed by order of the Governor in Council. The provisions relating to the prohibitions (sections 5 to 9) and the controlled activities are in force (except for section 12 relating to reimbursement of AHR related expenditures.)
Assisted Human Reproduction Canada was established on January 12, 2006 to administer the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. On December 21, 2006, the Minister of Health announced the appointment of a new President, a Chairperson and members of the Board of Directors. The President took office on February 14, 2007.
On March 29, 2012, during the federal budget announcement, it was announced that Assisted Human Reproduction Canada would be closed. Its responsibilities were transferred to Health Canada.