At a recent event showcasing new publications, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation highlighted the work of Martha Paynter, a nurse, researcher, and advocate. In her latest book, she explores how abortion is regulated in Canada despite the absence of a specific law and explains why many experts view this approach as both coherent and practical.

A Key Contribution to Health Policy and Rights

Published in September 2025, Lawless: Abortion under Complete Decriminalization explains how Canada became the most progressive jurisdiction in the world on abortion by removing the procedure from the Criminal Code. The book also examines what this framework means in practice for both patients and providers. Martha Paynter underscores a key paradox: decriminalization does not equate to deregulation. Federal and provincial policies continue to influence access and delivery, and barriers persist due to uneven service availability, unclear information, and belief‑based denial of care. Written in an accessible language, the book offers concrete insights and pragmatic pathways to address these ongoing challenges more than three decades after the decriminalization of abortion.