Three in four Quebecers support free contraception: poll

Proponents of British Columbia's move to provide free prescription contraception say the policy could spur other provinces to follow suit but a national plan would best serve people's reproductive needs and slash health-care costs overall. A one-month dosage of hormonal birth control pills is displayed in Sacramento, Calif. Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rich Pedroncelli

The vast majority of Quebecers (76 per cent) would like to have free access to contraception, according to a Léger poll commissioned by Québec Solidaire (QS) and released on Monday.

In an interview, QS co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal urged the Legault government to adopt this measure, given its repeated statements about wanting to ease the burden on Quebecers’ wallets.

However, since September, Premier François Legault “has taken action and introduced bills, but has not yet presented any measures to reduce the pressure on the cost of living,” she pointed out.

The Mercier MNA is therefore returning to call attention to this long-standing demand.

She presented a petition with approximately 100,000 signatures to the National Assembly calling for free contraception, before introducing a bill to that effect last May.

Her bill has never been tabled by the government.

Ghazal insists that her request is “consensual”; as proof, in the Léger poll, both women and men support it, regardless of their age, region, or level of education.

Furthermore, 53 per cent of respondents said they disagreed with the statement: “Contraception is a personal responsibility and the government should not pay for it.”

“I am delighted and very enthusiastic about the results. There is overwhelming public support for this public health measure,” said Ghazal.

She argues that free contraception would come at no cost to the government, as it would save money by preventing unwanted pregnancies.

According to her, Quebec is already lagging behind on this, with British Columbia, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island already implementing it.

The Legault government has already said that it is open to the measure and that discussions on funding will take place with the federal government.

“I urge the premier not to wait (...) for federal funding, because there is a consensus, because it allows us to make progress for women,” Ghazal argued on Monday.

“After that, yes, we must seek our money from the federal government without conditions,” she added.

The Léger survey “on the perception of free contraception in Quebec” was conducted online from Oct. 3 to 5, 2025, among 1,010 Quebecers.

For reference, a probabilistic sample of 1,010 respondents would have a presumed margin of error of ±3.08%, 19 times out of 20.

- by Caroline Plante

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov, 3, 2025.