Laws

This 1981 button advocates for women and legal reform.

This subsection contains material on legislation and legal frameworks at all levels of the justice system that impact women’s choices, options, freedoms and rights. Items address a wide range of issues during this period, including key fights around abortion laws, employment and pay equity, property and family laws, and gender-based violence.

Archival Materials

Buttons
Choice: No New Abortion Law

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This 1981 button advocates for women and legal reform.
Women and Legal Reform 1981

  • Year created:

    1981

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English

Documents
Abortion Rights is a Union Issue!

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Background Paper: Women’s Reproductive Health, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Canadian Health Act: Executive Summary

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Author(s):

    Sheliah L. Martin

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Bill C-43: Abortion Act Opinion

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Author(s):

    Suzanne P. Boivin

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Bill C-43: Abortion Act Opinion

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Author(s):

    Suzanne P. Boivin

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
CACSW Finds Federal Abortion Legislation Unconstitutional and Urges Government To Withdraw It Immediately

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of Chronology of Court Cases on Abortion
Chronology of Court Cases on Abortion

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Communiqué: CACSW Finds Federal Abortion Legislation Unconstitutional (Press Release)

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Current Status of Abortion in Canada (The History of the Issue)

  • Year created:

    1975

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Dr. Morgentaler Statement to the May 4th Demonstration (1974)

  • Year created:

    1974

  • Author(s):

    Henry Morgentaler

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Endorsement List for the Legalization of Free-Standing Abortion Clinics

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Facts on Abortion

  • Year created:

    1985

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Guide for a Study Program on Abortion

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of Keep Abortion Legal – NAC Flyer (1989)
Issues & Campaigns (1989): Keep Abortion Legal

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Legalize Free Standing Abortion Clinics

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Legalize Free-Standing Abortion Clinics

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Letter – Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (2002)

  • Year created:

    2000andafter

  • Author(s):

    Neil R. Wilson

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Letter – Pension Advisory Committee (1992)

  • Year created:

    1992

  • Author(s):

    Mai Dang

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Letter – Pension Advisory Committee (1994)

  • Year created:

    1994

  • Author(s):

    Arthur C. Eggleton

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Letter – Pensions Benefits Division Act & Regulations (1994)

  • Year created:

    1994

  • Author(s):

    Allan Kaufman

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of May 28th Coalition Flyer for March & Rally (1977)
May 28th Coalition Flyer for March & Rally (1977)

  • Year created:

    1977

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Media Alert: CACSW Published Women’s Reproductive Health, The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Canada Health Act

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Author(s):

    Sheilah Martin

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
Native Women and the Constitution: An I.R.I.W. Publication

  • Year created:

    1981

  • Author(s):

    Indian Rights for Indian Women (IRIW)

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
New Areas of Inequality Against Indian Women Arise From Bill C-31: CACSW Background Paper

  • Year created:

    1987

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
Policy Recommendations on the Abortion Issue

  • Year created:

    1978

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of Public Meeting on Abortion and Women’s Liberation (1983)
Public Meeting on Abortion and Women’s Liberation (1983)

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
The Politics and Law of Abortion Flyer

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Tired of Waiting on Tables/A bout de patience

  • Year created:

    1991

  • Author(s):

    Anne Molgat

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English and French
Why You Need To Be At The Constitutional Table

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Women of Colour and Immigrant Women Say No To New Abortion Law

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English

Films

Still from the film "Democracy on Trial" featuring a black and white headshot of Henry Morgentaler, a middle aged white man with a beard and glasses.
Democracy on Trial: The Morgentaler Affair

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Paul Cowan

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    Quebec
Still from footage of the constitutional conference in 1981 featuring a large group of white feminists sitting in a room in Parliament. Many of them are raising their hands to vote on a motion.
Footage from the Women and the Constitution Conference 1981

  • Year created:

    1981

  • Filmmaker(s):

    unknown

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Black and white archival image of white women protestors on the steps of the Art Gallery in Vancouver holding various pro-choice banners.
Vancouver Women’s Caucus March: Abortion Is Our Right, 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Rhoda Rosenfeld

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    British Columbia

Periodicals

Canadian Abortion Rights Action League Newsletter

Canadian Abortion Rights Action League Newsletter – Spring 1985

  • Year created:

    1985

  • Publisher:

    Canadian Abortion Rights Action League

  • Author(s):

    Norma Scarborough

  • Language:

    English

Newsletter of the National Association of Women and The Law

Newsletter of the National Association of Women and the Law – February 1977

  • Year created:

    1977

  • Publisher:

    National Association of Women and the Law

  • Author(s):

    Shirley Greenberg, Sandra Kobayashi, Alison Fraser, Rebecca Bourdage

  • Language:

    English

Pro-Choice News

Pro-Choice News – Spring 1998

  • Year created:

    1998

  • Publisher:

    Canadian Abortion Rights Action League

  • Author(s):

    Ann Decter (Editor), Norma Scarborough

  • Language:

    English

Photos

During the May 11th protest on Parliament Hill, Margo Dunn speaks to the media and supporters before Section 237 of the Criminal Code is symbolically burned. Sandra Conway is holding the "law".
Abortion Caravan (1970) – Burning the Law

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Photographer:

    Errol Young

  • Region:

    Ontario