By The Canadian Press on July 10, 2020.<\/p>\n
OTTAWA The Supreme Court of Canada is slated to rule this morning on the constitutionality of a federal law that forbids companies from making people undergo genetic testing before buying insurance or other services.<\/p>\n
The Genetic Non-Discrimination Act also outlaws the practice of requiring the disclosure of existing genetic test results as a condition for obtaining such services or entering into a contract.<\/p>\n
The act is intended to ensure Canadians can take genetic tests to help identify health risks without fear they will be penalized when seeking life or health insurance.<\/p>\n
The law, passed three years ago, is the result of a private members bill that was introduced in the Senate and garnered strong support from MPs despite opposition from then-justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould.<\/p>\n
The Quebec government referred the new law to the provincial Court of Appeal, which ruled in 2018 that it strayed beyond the federal governments jurisdiction over criminal law.<\/p>\n
The Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness then challenged the ruling in the Supreme Court of Canada, which heard the appeal last October.<\/p>\n
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2020.<\/p>\n
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Supreme Court to rule on constitutionality of genetic discrimination law - Medicine Hat News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By The Canadian Press on July 10, 2020. OTTAWA The Supreme Court of Canada is slated to rule this morning on the constitutionality of a federal law that forbids companies from making people undergo genetic testing before buying insurance or other services. The Genetic Non-Discrimination Act also outlaws the practice of requiring the disclosure of existing genetic test results as a condition for obtaining such services or entering into a contract. Continue reading