In Canada, late-term abortions can occur without a medical reason, contrary to previous assertions by some political figures. In 2013, former Liberal MP Dr. Carolyn Bennett stated that no doctor could perform an abortion after 24 weeks unless the mother's life was at risk or the fetus had serious complications. She challenged anyone to find a case of a late-term abortion performed on a healthy mother with a healthy fetus.

However, Abortion Care Canada, formerly known as the National Abortion Federation of Canada, clarified that a specific medical concern is not necessary for obtaining an abortion beyond the first trimester. Executive Director TK Pritchard stated, "There does not have to be a specific medical concern that is named" for a later gestational age abortion.

This clarification comes in light of secret videos recorded by Alissa Golob, co-founder of the anti-abortion group RightNow, in 2023. Golob, who was over five months pregnant at the time, filmed conversations at abortion clinics in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. The videos, which are less than 10 minutes each, contain edited excerpts from longer discussions with clinic staff. Three of the videos have been shared on social media, while a fourth from Calgary has not yet been released.

Golob's intent was to investigate whether it was possible to obtain a late-term abortion without medical justification. In one video from Toronto, a clinic employee indicated that while the clinic's limit was 24 weeks, women seeking abortions later in pregnancy could be referred to a nearby hospital that sometimes performs abortions up to 32 weeks. Pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks.

When Golob asked if her health needed to be at risk for a hospital referral, the doctor reportedly replied, "Abortion care like that hasn’t existed since the 1960s." The doctor added that the law in Canada does not impose a limit on gestational age for abortions, stating, "The law in Canada and the U.S. overall doesn’t have a ‘too far.’"

In another video, a social worker at a Vancouver clinic told Golob that about 60% of unplanned pregnancies end in abortion, often due to personal circumstances such as feeling unprepared or having health concerns. The social worker emphasized that no specific reason is required, saying, "It could just be, ‘I don’t want to be pregnant.'"

Pro-abortion advocates criticized the videos as an attempt to portray a distorted view of abortion services. Frederique Chabot, executive director of Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, described the videos as "heavily edited, deceptive, heavily narrated" and aimed at eliciting an emotional response to support efforts to restrict abortion access.

Chabot pointed out that the videos focus on specific parts of conversations and do not provide a complete picture of the discussions with healthcare providers. She emphasized that the need for late-term abortions often arises from complex medical or psychosocial reasons, such as barriers to accessing earlier care or personal crises.

The Alberta United Conservative Party plans to vote on a resolution to limit public funding for third-trimester abortions, except when the mother's health is at serious risk. Chabot noted that the timing of the videos appears to target healthcare providers who offer specialized care to vulnerable individuals.

In Canada, there are no criminal laws that restrict abortion at any stage of pregnancy. The federal government considers abortion a medically necessary service, and there are no legal restrictions on gestational age limits. A Leger poll conducted in May 2024 indicated that a majority of Canadians support a woman's right to choose abortion.

In 2023, Canada reported 101,553 abortions, with most occurring before 12 weeks of gestation. The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada defines a later-term abortion as one that takes place after 20 weeks. Data from 2020 indicated that 4.4% of abortions were performed after 21 weeks.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) no longer reports gestational age due to low coverage, which raises concerns about the accuracy of available data. A recent review suggested that abortion care is consistently available in Canada only up to 23 weeks and six days, with women needing care beyond that typically seeking services in the U.S. Most provinces cover out-of-country abortion care, although women must pay for travel and accommodation.

As the conversation around late-term abortions continues to evolve, the lack of legal boundaries in Canada allows for ongoing discussions about access and the circumstances surrounding late-term procedures.