Citation: R. v. Morgentaler, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 30
Date: January 28, 1988
State interference with bodily integrity and serious state-imposed psychological stress, at least in the criminal law context, constitutes a breach of security of the person.
...
Liberty in a free and democratic society does not require the state to approve such decisions but it does require the state to respect them.
...
The decision whether or not to terminate a pregnancy is essentially a moral decision and in a free and democratic society, the conscience of the individual must be paramount to that of the state.
...
The state here is endorsing one conscientiously-held view at the expense of another. It is denying freedom of conscience to some, treating them as means to an end, depriving them of their "essential humanity".Whip the vote, Mr. Rae.