In Canada, abortion is legal throughout the entire pregnancy (all nine months, up to 40 weeks). However, no providers typically offer abortion care beyond 23 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy due to medical guidelines and facility limitations. The availability of abortion services and gestational limits vary significantly by province and territory, with most regions providing abortions up to somewhere between 12 weeks and 24 weeks of pregnancy. Here are gestational limits by some provinces and territories:
- Alberta: Up to 20 weeks
- British Columbia: Up to 23 weeks and 6 days (some programs provide up to 25 weeks)
- Manitoba: Up to 19 weeks and 6 days
- New Brunswick: Up to 16 weeks
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Up to 15 weeks
- Northwest Territories: Up to 19 weeks and 6 days
- Nova Scotia: Up to 16 weeks
- Nunavut: Up to 12 weeks
- Ontario: Up to 23 weeks and 6 days
- Prince Edward Island: Up to 12 weeks and 6 days
- Quebec: Up to 23 weeks and 6 days
- Saskatchewan: Up to 18 weeks and 6 days
- Yukon: Up to 12 weeks and 6 days
While abortion is legal in Canada without restriction, access depends on the province or territory's healthcare regulations and availability of providers. Medical abortions using medication are also available, often up to 9 weeks of pregnancy. Thus, in practice, abortions can generally be obtained legally up to about 24 weeks in many provinces, with earlier limits in some regions. No legal limit bans abortion before birth, but late-term abortions beyond the third trimester are very rarely provided and only under exceptional circumstances.
