Minister of Health Sonia Bélanger was called upon to comment on public funding for assisted reproductive technology services

In Quebec, between 10% and 15% of heterosexual couples of reproductive age face infertility issues. In a CIRANO study, Marie-Louise Leroux (ESG UQAM) argues that these challenges raise important public policy questions:

• How can people facing infertility be better supported?
• How can fertility care be organized and funded fairly?
• How can an environment be created that allows individuals to have children if they wish?

Minister of Health Sonia Bélanger was called upon to discuss these issues during Question Period at the National Assembly on March 18. The exchange between the minister and MNA Marwah Rizqy focused on the affordability and accessibility of assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments in Quebec, as well as the lack of access to Quebec-specific data for research purposes, an issue raised by Marie-Louise Leroux.

These exchanges follow an opinion piece published in the Journal de Montréal by Marwah Rizqy.

ART treatments are not only a medical issue. They also raise questions of equity, access to care, and collective choices regarding family policy. This is an important public discussion that should continue.

➡️ Minister Sonia Bélanger during Question Period at the National Assembly (minute 34:44)

➡️ Read the CIRANO report by Marie-Louise Leroux Politiques publiques de financement de la procréation assistée

➡️ Read the opinion piece by Marwah Rizqy in Journal de Montréal