Statutory prohibitions and the regulation of new reproductive technologies under federal law in Canada.

This paper reviews recommendations made by the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies concerning statutory prohibitions and offences relating to reproduction and reproductive technologies. The recommendations are criticized on three grounds. First, the Report offers no analysis of the legislative authority that would enable Parliament to enact its recommendations. Second, it offers no consideration of principles of criminal jurisprudence that would justify the prohibitions proposed. Third, the Report fails to advance arguments or rationales that would justify each of the specific recommendations concerning statutory prohibitions. In short, the Report fails to make a case for implementation of the Comnission's recommendations with respect to statutory prohibitions because the legal aspects of those proposals are ill-developed or misconceived. A further conclusion is that the only effective legislative response to issues raised by reproductive technologies is concerted action, including regulatory measures, by Parliament and the provincial legislatures. Dans cet article, l'auteur passe en revue les recommandations faites par la Commission royale d'enqute sur les nouvelles techniques de reproduction quant aux infractions et interdictions statutaires relatives L la reproduction et aux techniques de reproduction. Le Rapport de la Commission est critiqud sous trois diffdrents aspects. Premirement, celui-ci ne proc~de 't aucune analyse de l'autorit6 1gislative qui permettrait au Parlement de les adopter. Deuxi~mement, it ne traite pas des principes issus de lajurisprudence en matire p6nale et qui, pourtant, pourraient justifier les interdictions propos6es. Troisi~mement, it 6vite de mettre de t'avant des arguments ou des raisonnements susceptibles de soutenir chacune des recommandations relatives aux interdictions statutaires. Bref, ce Rapport ne soutient pas la mise en place de ces recommandations puisque celles-ci reposent sur une base juridique mal conque. En outre, it n'existe qu'une seule rdponse 16gislative efficace A ces questions soulevwes par les techniques de reproduction : l'action concert6e, incluant les mesures rdglementaires, du Parlement et des 16gislateurs provinciales.