 Shannon Stuart, 38, of Whitby, Ont., and her husband have been trying to have a baby for seven years. After several fertility treatments, $40,000 and one miscarriage, they've given up on that dream. (KATE SCHWASS-BUECKERT/QMI AGENCY)
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TORONTO — Shannon Stuart and her husband have given up their dream of having a child of their own.
In seven years, they went to two fertility clinics, had five intrauterine inseminations, two in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, and spent more than $40,000 in their quest to become parents.
Stuart did become pregnant once, but had a miscarriage.
"The cost is the biggest part," the 38-year-old from Whitby, Ont., said. "If money wasn't an issue, I would have tried many more times."
Two years ago, Stuart had hope the financial burden could be eased. She was part of a panel that looked at infertility and adoption in Ontario.
Dalton McGuinty's government set up the expert panel in June 2008.
In 2009, the panel recommended Ontario pay for up to three cycles of IVF, deliver a new tax credit refund for up to half the cost of fertility drugs and create a provincial adoption agency, recommendations it said could save the province millions in health-care costs.
Since the report was released, the portion discussing IVF has collected dust.
"It's very frustrating. I think they missed a window of opportunity," Stuart said.
In August 2009, McGuinty said he agreed with the panel's recommendation to fund treatments.
"I see us as being a large extended family and if one of our daughters in this extended family of 13 million is having trouble, I feel a sense of responsibility," McGuinty said. But he also noted cost would be an issue.
Since then, there has been no further mention of the province funding infertility treatments, despite pressure from grassroots organizations and advocates.
In an Aug. 11, 2010, letter obtained by QMI Agency, Gov. Gen. David Johnston -- then University of Waterloo president and head of the panel -- asked Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews why the province hasn't acted on the recommendations.
"The key is not simply money, but the government leadership to review and modify outdated policies and practices, many of which have a negative impact on family-building," Johnston wrote.
In an interview with QMI Agency, Matthews said the government is still considering the panel's recommendations.
"We've been able to make some very important steps forward on the adoption side," she said.
But she said the province still needs to do more work before funding fertility treatments.
"The panel did a wonderful job and they concluded it would be a fiscally responsible thing to do," she said.
"We just simply don't have the information to verify that."
The province is watching Quebec, where IVF procedures have been funded for about a year, and reviewing results from fertility clinics.
"We are not closing the door to it," she said. "We're taking some important steps."
