This week, Canadian Affairs published an article on access to in vitro fertilization, an expensive and time-consuming treatment that helps individuals and couples struggling to conceive.
Notably, access to IVF varies considerably across the country.
In Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and the territories, there is no public funding for IVF, meaning approximately 25 per cent of Canadians live in jurisdictions where they must pay out of pocket for treatment.
The funding available in the other provinces varies in form and amount. Residents of the Atlantic provinces and Manitoba are eligible for grants or tax credits that range from $5,000 to $10,000 in value. Ontario and Quebec residents are eligible for coverage of a single IVF treatment cycle, which costs between $10,000 and $20,000.
Healthcare funding is always a question of trade-offs. The government cannot — and should not — fund every conceivable want or need. Certain types of medical procedures are best paid for privately, if at all (leg lengthening surgery comes to mind).
Fertility treatment, we would argue, does not fall within this camp. There are compelling reasons for the government to ensure IVF treatment is accessible to Canadians wherever they live.
