23 Apr 2012 What Canadians are Saying
A Summary of Canadian Abortion Poll Data
When Abortion Should be Illegal
“The majority of Canadians (60%) believe that the life of the unborn should be protected at some point during pregnancy, according to several Abacus Data polls (2011). When asked specifically when they’d like to see abortion illegal, 77% of Canadians responded with “in the last three months” (Environics, 2011).”
Fewer than 30% of Canadians believe that a woman should be able to have an abortion at any time during her pregnancy without restrictions, according to two polls conducted by Angus Reid in 2010.
Awareness of Abortion Laws
80% of Canadians are unaware that abortions are legal in Canada at any time during pregnancy, with no restrictions whatsoever. 61% believe that abortions are restricted to the first 3 months, according to 3 polls conducted by Angus Reid between 2008 and 2010.
Access to Information about Abortion Alternatives
79% of Canadians believe that pregnant women should be provided with information on abortion alternatives (adoption, pregnancy counselling) as soon as they inform their health care workers of their pregnancy (Angus Reid, 2010).
Sex-selection and Gendercide
Most Canadians (92%) believe that abortion based on the gender of the fetus (sex-selected abortions) should be illegal in Canada. Only 5% believe that sex-selected abortions should be legal, according to a 2011 Environics poll.
Opinion on Lack of Legislation
Only 27% of Canadians feel it is acceptable that Canada has no national abortion law, according to a survey conducted by Ipsos Reid in 2010.
Pre-born Victims of Crime
70% of Canadians would support legislation making it a separate crime to injure or kill a fetus during an attack on the mother, according to polls by Environics (2007) and Angus Reid (2008).
For a more detailed analysis produced by The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, click here.
