Cambridge Midwives: WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AS A PREGNANT WOMAN?
In Ontario, women are legally protected from discrimination and harassment because of sex, including pregnancy and breastfeeding. There is also protection based on Family Status for being in a parent and child relationship. It is illegal to discriminate because a woman is pregnant. It is also illegal to discriminate because a woman was pregnant, had a baby, or may become pregnant. You have the right to keep your job, rent an apartment, or sign a lease or other contract, without discrimination because of your pregnancy. Services should also be provided free from discrimination. Some of these services and areas include: • restaurants and cafés • stores and malls • schools • parks WHAT ABOUT BREASTFEEDING? You have rights as a nursing mother. For example, you have the right to breastfeed a child in a public area. No one should prevent you from nursing your child simply because you are in a public area. They should not ask you to “cover up”, disturb you, or ask you to move to another area
