QUESTION PERIOD — Indigenous Services
Forced Sterilization
May 25, 2021
Honourable senators, this question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. Senator Gold, last week it was reported in La Presse that Joyce Echaquan, the First Nations woman who in September 2020 died in a hospital bed as staff laughed at her, had previously been sterilized against her will. In addition to her sterilization, she had been forced or coerced into at least three unwanted abortions.
This led to Joyce having an understandable and justifiable fear of and lack of trust in the health care system. Tragically, her lack of trust was proven right, and she paid for it with her life.
This is an all too common story with Indigenous women in Canada’s health care system. The spaces that should be the safest for us are often the most dangerous. Action to repair the generational lack of trust will take time, but action to save these lives must be taken immediately. What is the government doing to right these wrongs for Joyce’s family and for all the women who have been sterilized against their will?
Thank you for your question, colleague. Forced and coerced sterilization is a deeply troubling and unacceptable violation of human rights. As you would know, Indigenous Services Canada has been looking into this issue with guidance from the department’s Advisory Committee on Indigenous Women’s Wellbeing, which is a committee comprised of Indigenous organizations, including experts in women’s organizations. This was launched in 2019.
In addition, Indigenous Services Canada, in January 2020, supported a national forum on consent and informed choice in Indigenous women’s services.
With regard to the tragedy in my province to which you referred, as you would know, a coroner’s inquest is currently under way to examine the circumstances surrounding her tragic death.
