CLC Blog

In early October, the Quebec government proposed a provincial constitution that included among its “foundational principles” the “freedom of women to obtain an abortion,” even though the Quebec Charter already states that “every human being has the right to life.” Premier François Legault perversely defended the proposed constitution as a way to protect Quebecers’ distinct identity and culture.

Quebec’s prominent pro-life organization, Quebec Life Coalition, strongly denounced the so-called freedom to abort in the constitution, pointing out that it enshrines the deliberate elimination of an unborn human being as part of Quebec’s foundational identity. “We are outraged—but not surprised,” said Georges Buscemi, President of Quebec Life Coalition, in a statement. “For far too long, Quebec has been institutionalizing the erasure of its spiritual roots, its long tradition of defending life, and even its very sense of human solidarity.”

Buscemi noted that the proposed constitution carefully refers to a “freedom” to abort, and not a “right” to abortion. “This semantic nuance betrays a certain discomfort. For to proclaim a right to abortion would be to affirm that abortion is, in itself, a morally good act — a claim that even pro-choice advocates are often reluctant to defend publicly,” he said.

Quebec Life Coalition has launched a petition to the National Assembly, asking it to remove the articles that would constitutionalize abortion and euthanasia, to recognize the Christian foundations of Quebec’s identity, and to launch a dialogue with faith communities, families, and defenders of life.

Interestingly, pro-life advocates have found themselves allied with pro-abortion activists in denouncing the constitution’s proposed “freedom” to abort. Jess Legault, general coordinator for the pro-abortion group Fédération du Québec pour le planning des naissances, is calling on the Quebec government to remove the abortion clause. Why? Because Canada is the only country in the world that has no law governing abortion. Once there is such a law, abortion activists fear it would give pro-life advocates a legal foothold to limit abortion.

“This is one of those really well-intentioned bad ideas. We saw this in 2022 with Justin Trudeau, after Roe v. Wade was overturned in the U.S.,” Legault told CTV News on October 11. “Every time this comes up as an idea, we have to block it,” she added.

Canadian pro-abortion activist Martha Paynter spelled out in her 2025 book Lawless: Abortion under Complete Decriminalization why abortion activists want to keep the status quo.

“With laws come limits,” she wrote. “Canada remains the only country in the world with complete decriminalization of abortion. There are no legal restrictions on gestation duration, no required waiting periods, no mandatory counselling, no parental consent requirements, or any other legal barriers erected solely to delay and diminish abortion access.” Abortion activists want to keep it that way.

The truth is that the Supreme Court of Canada did not envision the Canada we live in today when it comes to abortion. In the 1988 Morgentaler decision, the Court was unanimous in finding that the state has an interest in protecting the lives of humans in the womb. It tasked Parliament with creating such a law—something that has yet to happen, although flawed attempts have been made.

What justice demands is for Parliament to pass legislation protecting children in the womb. Such legislation must reflect what science and medical advancements reveal to us about life in the womb—namely, that it is a fully human life.

If such legislation is to truly remedy the current wrongs suffered by preborn humans targeted for abortion, it must restore their legal protection from the first moment of their existence. The pro-life movement is fighting hard for this day to come. It will be a long battle, but that day will surely come. The blood of preborn children calling out from the ground to God for justice cannot go unheard forever.