The revelation by The Catholic Register that pro-life advocate Alissa Golob conducted an undercover investigation into late-term abortion accessibility in Canada has sparked a significant national response. A week after the initial report, new developments emerged, including a fourth hidden-camera video that Golob claims she cannot legally release due to laws in Alberta.
Alissa Golob, co-founder of RightNow, went undercover while 22 weeks pregnant, visiting abortion clinics in major cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary in 2023. Her interactions with medical staff revealed alarming practices, where she was informed that late-term abortions could be arranged at nearby hospitals, potentially up to 32 weeks into the pregnancy, and often without the need for medical justification.
The videos captured Golob asking about late-term abortions, during which clinic staff provided concerning replies. Some described the procedure as a “mini stillbirth” and suggested reasons for seeking abortions, including having two children or simply not wanting to be pregnant.
These findings starkly contradict longstanding claims by political figures that late-term abortions in Canada are performed only under specific circumstances, such as significant health risks to the mother or severe fetal abnormalities. In a recent email interview, Golob expressed her astonishment at the level of shock and horror expressed by Canadians upon learning that late-term abortions are more accessible than previously believed.
Many individuals who identify as pro-choice have reached out to Golob, expressing their discomfort with the notion of unrestricted late-term abortions. This has prompted a mixed reaction from abortion rights advocates, with some dismissing the videos as misleading despite the evidence presented.
A notable aspect of Golob’s investigation is the legal barrier she faces regarding the Calgary footage, which is protected by bubble-zone legislation in Alberta. This law prevents the release of any recorded material from within designated areas around clinics, posing a significant obstacle to transparency in the debate over late-term abortions. Golob has stated that until the law changes, she cannot share this particular video.
With no official responses from the clinics featured in her investigation, Golob has pointed out the silence from these institutions as indicative of their awareness of being “caught red-handed.” Meanwhile, pro-life politicians have rallied around her findings, sharing the videos and prompting discussions across party lines, revealing a growing concern over the issue.
Golob has emphasized that the recordings illustrate how readily late-term abortion referrals can be obtained, often requiring minimal justification from patients. She raises important questions regarding the reliability of Canadian abortion statistics, noting that terminations after 20 weeks are often classified as stillbirths without clear distinctions on the reasons behind these procedures.
While Golob has no immediate plans to release more footage, she believes the initial revelations have opened a critical dialogue in Canada regarding the true nature of late-term abortion access. Her investigation has spotlighted a topic many Canadians were unaware of, igniting conversations that may lead to further scrutiny and understanding of abortion practices in the country.
As public interest continues to grow, it reflects a broader desire for transparent dialogue and answers surrounding a sensitive yet crucial issue affecting many families across Canada.