Do Canadians support a law limiting abortion?
Yes.
In all but one of the opinion polls publicly available since 2010, a majority of Canadians support at least some law regulating abortion.
Are Canadians pro-choice?
Yes.
If you look at the polls that ask whether abortion is permissible (i.e. whether you always support a woman’s choice) the numbers are much closer, with an average of 48% supporting a choice at any point, 46% only supporting sometimes, and 5% unsure.
How can we interpret these results? With opinion polls it is always important to look at the methodology, what questions are being asked and who is being asked. For example, if you ask the average Canadian their opinions on abortion you must remember that (according to one poll) 77% of Canadians are unaware that Canada has no abortion law. Saying you support a women’s right to choose may mean something very different if you are assuming a woman can’t legally have a third trimester abortion.
The 2020 Dart poll is an excellent example of this. In that poll, 71% believe a woman should be able to get an abortion for any reason, but at the same time 70% of Canadians think abortion should be illegal in the last trimester and 84% said they supported a law against sex selective abortion.
Update: A 2022 Postmedia/Maru Public Opinion survey asked Canadians:
Since a decision by the Canadian Supreme Court in 1988, having an abortion in Canada is not limited by law. In your own opinion, do you find this in Canada to be
- Acceptable = 63%
- Unacceptable = 12%
- Don’t Care = 14%
- Don’t know = 11%
This was a fair question and gives a good picture of where Canadians stand on the general question of the legality of abortion. But the poll did not ask Canadians about specific legislation, meaning we don’t know if the same inconsistency still exists.
There is a difference between being asked “Do you support women?” versus “Do you support the termination of a 24-week old fetus who is viable and can feel pain?” or “Do you support abortion when a pre-born child is unwanted because of her sex?” A respondent may feel it is obvious to affirm the first question, but may feel uncomfortable when faced with specific questions highlighting what this means to the pre-born child in the other questions.
Prominent pro-abortion activist Joyce Arthur acknowledges this, saying, “Virtually everyone supports “freedom” and “privacy” so a large majority of people will agree that women should have both. But if specific questions are asked about exactly when fetal life should be protected, women’s so-called “complete freedom” to have abortions appears to take a sudden nosedive.” Abortion becomes far less palatable when you are faced with the reality of what it does to a pre-born human.
If you want to know your opinion on abortion, consider the following:
- Do you know that Canada is the only democratic country with no law on abortion? Every other country considers pre-born children worthy of at least some protection.
- Since Canada has no abortion law, do you think it is okay that abortions occur in the last trimester with no legal restrictions?
- Given questions 1 & 2, do you really think any choice a woman makes regarding her pre-born child should be legal?
If you’re not comfortable answering these questions in the affirmative, look at our International Standards Law as a solution. This proposed law would bring Canada in line with all other democratic countries in protecting pre-born children after 13-weeks gestation. It would also allow a waiting period for women seeking an abortion, along with independent counselling to ensure proper informed consent and to screen for coercion or abuse.
It’s time we acknowledge that abortion is not only about women, but also about pre-born human beings. It’s time for a law that protects them, while supporting the women who carry them.
Links to opinion polls referenced in tables:
2010 Ipsos Reid
2011 AbacusData
2011 Environics
2012 Forum Research
2012 Postmedia
2012 Angus Reid
2013 Environics
2013 Angus Reid
2017 Ipsos Reid
2018 Angus Reid
2020 DART