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Bill 209, Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice Month Act, 2024

Hazell, Andrea

Collard, Lucille

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Status

Debates

Original

Bill 209 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill proclaims the month of April in each year as Black Maternal Health and

Reproductive Justice Month.

Bill 209 2024

Act to proclaim the month of April as Black Maternal Health and Reproductive

Justice Month

Preamble

Black

mothers face worse maternal health outcomes than mothers in other groups. Black

women are approximately three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related

cause than White women. This is not only a policy failure, but a moral failure.

Ongoing

structural racism plays a central role in the deaths of Black mothers; biases

within the medical profession directly shape the care that Black women receive

during pregnancy. The quality of maternal healthcare is even worse for Black

women who face poverty, unstable housing, food insecurity and violence in their

everyday lives.

Applying

a racial justice perspective is essential for contextualizing and resolving

racial disparities in maternal health in Ontario. Structural racism can

manifest itself through barriers to accessing health care and medical

knowledge, through the exclusion of minority communities from health data and through

inaccurate diagnoses and treatment.

Proclaiming

April as Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice Month raises awareness of

the challenges faced by Black women in accessing adequate maternal health care.

These challenges include the lack of data collection on health risks, instances

of medical racism and the absence of tailored support for Black women. By

acknowledging these unique challenges, the wellbeing of Black mothers becomes a

focus of our healthcare system, taking the first step in ensuring we move

towards better protecting Black mothers in Ontario.

Therefore,

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Black

Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice Month

The

month of April in each year is proclaimed as Black Maternal Health and

Reproductive Justice Month.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Black Maternal Health

and Reproductive Justice Month Act, 2024 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

June 5, 2024

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

June 5, 2024

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

June 5, 2024

Carried

Ordered for Second Reading

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