Hon. Kristopher Wells: Senator Moreau, in the last election, Prime Minister Carney promised to make in vitro fertilization, or IVF, an eligible health expenditure under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act and expand the medical expense tax credit to include costs that have been reimbursed to a surrogate for IVF expenses. This promise is about helping families, including many 2SLGBTQI+ families, deal with sometimes prohibitively high costs of IVF. However, many Canadians were deeply disappointed to see nothing about this critical promise in Budget 2025.

Senator, children are the future of this country. Does the government remain committed to delivering on this important pledge, which will help provide vital support to all kinds of families in all parts of this country?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): I appreciate the question, Senator Wells. The government is very aware that fertility treatments such as IVF can be both challenging as well as heartbreaking for anyone trying to have a child and that the affordability of fertility treatments remains a challenge for many Canadians. I am informed that the government will have more to say on this issue in due course, but, unfortunately, I can’t give you more specific information on that question today.

Senator K. Wells: Thank you.

More and more Canadians are becoming parents via adoption or surrogacy. For LGBTQ2 people, it is often the only way they can have the family they have always wanted. But there are still many barriers these couples face.

These are not my words. They are taken directly from the Liberal Party election platform, and I couldn’t agree with them more. I know I speak for many Canadians across the country in calling for the government to move forward on this important promise. It is a matter of equity and simply the right thing to do. Do you agree with its importance?

Senator Moreau: I want to note that I believe that what you said was from a previous election platform and not this government’s election platform.

As I say, the government is very aware of the challenge many Canadians face with IVF and will have more to say in due course.