Experts say a federal IVF program could co-ordinate Canada’s patchwork of provincial funding

An Ipsos survey conducted for Fertility Matters Canada (FMC) found that 46 per cent of Canadians with an opinion on the proposal support a federal program to fund in vitro fertilization (IVF). Experts say it could help co-ordinate a patchwork of public provincial funding. Nine of Canada’s 10 provinces offer some form of IVF program, grant or tax credit, which the industry says are working.

The Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) says 5,466 patients in Ontario and 3,606 in Quebec received provincial IVF funding in 2025. Ontario’s Ministry of Health told Global News by email that 132,900 women have received publicly funded fertility support since 2015.

During his 2025 campaign, Prime Minister Mark Carney promised Canadians up to $20,000 for one round of IVF treatment. The promise has not yet materialized. FMC executive director Carolynn Dubé told Global News she has spoken with the federal government and believes officials seem to be listening. She said there is keen interest in understanding what a program would mean for Canadians and how to put the right one in place and deliver it well.

One round of IVF treatment costs about $20,000. CFAS executive director Emily McIntosh said the average heterosexual couple will need three rounds before achieving a successful outcome. She said fertility treatment is unaffordable for many people, and funded programs offer hope and a path to building a family. Provincial funding is an important, critical start, she said, but it is not enough; the federal government and insurance plans need to step up because the financial barrier is substantial. Every Canadian who wants to build a family should have the opportunity, she said. McIntosh also said fertility care is health care and should be accessible to everyone.

The survey found support for a federal IVF funding program was highest among Canadians aged 18 to 34. In that age group, 26 per cent said the program would affect their own family-building plans or those of someone close to them. The group is also among those hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis.

Dubé said education and awareness are also important. In conversations with patients across the country, she has heard that many did not know about IVF costs and barriers until they needed fertility treatment. She said the experience brings not only financial strain but also a mental toll. Research shows that an infertility diagnosis has the same negative impact on mental health as a diagnosis of a more significant health concern such as cancer or heart disease, Dubé said, adding that the two are not treated the same way. She said raising public awareness would help the tens of thousands of Canadians still waiting to take their baby home.

A spokesperson for federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel told Global News in a statement that the ministry recognizes the many challenges associated with fertility treatments, including financial burdens. “We recognize the importance of this issue for many Canadians, and we’ll have more to say on this in due course,” the spokesperson said.