In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada’s abortion law. The Court, however, left it open for Parliament to make a new abortion law, and never endorsed the idea that there should be no federal legislation regulating abortion or protecting pre-born children.
Canada has then by default joined China and North Korea in having no restrictions on abortion. Through rallies and debates, many Canadians have made it clear that they are not resolved on this issue. For example, in 2013, 25 000 Canadians marched in the annual March for Life in Ottawa. Many surveys and polls have revealed that people are against certain types of abortion, such as sex-selective abortions and late-term abortions. Given that Canadians are so divided on this issue, it is important that debates can happen and allow people to explore the issue further in a safe and respectful manner.
The issue of abortion is especially relevant for our age demographic, which undergoes the most abortions, and also for universities, where we should be encouraged to engage and discuss on important issues. Debates provide a platform to better understand the parameters of an issue as they allow both sides to present their case. It is for these reasons that Youth Protecting Youth (YPY) held a debate on abortion.
Youth Protecting Youth
