12-year-olds can get abortions in Ontario without parental knowledge

by Patrick B. Craine

TORONTO, Ontario, June 9, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A twelve-year-old in Ontario cannot go on a school field trip without parental permission, or drink alcohol without a parent present.  They won’t be able to drive, buy cigarettes, or vote for years.  But they can get an abortion all on their own, without their parents ever knowing.

Private abortion facilities across Ontario advertise with pride that they will perform abortions on girls under 16 without informing their parents.

Because Canada’s laws do not stipulate an age of consent for abortion, the only places where parental notification or consent might be required are in hospitals, and even that is dependent on the individual hospital’s policy.

The Women’s Care Clinic in Toronto, for example, is unapologetic about the fact that they would refuse to give any information to parents of girls as young as 14, or even younger.

“I’m only 14 can I still have an abortion at your clinic?” their FAQ asks.  “Yes, we do not discriminate by age and we do NOT require consent for our clients who are under the age of 18.”

“Furthermore, we do not tell your parents any information even if they call our facility inquiring about your whereabouts.”

Similar statements can be found on the websites of The Morgentaler Clinic, the Scott Clinic, Choice in Health, and others.

According to Alissa Golob, head of Campaign Life Coalition Youth, the lack of parental notification requirements is a “sex-abuser’s dream.”

“They can abuse and impregnate as many young girls as they want and cover it up by getting free and legal abortions,” she explained.

“You can’t let a teenager see an ‘R’-rated movie because of gore or violence, but you can permit them to have the ultimate gore and violence inflicted on their unborn child through abortion at any age and that’s okay,” she observed.

Golob concluded, saying that the situation shows that “education is essential, especially to the youth of our nation, to prevent them from making a mistake they will regret for the rest of their lives.”