‘Business has Boomed’: Canadian Surrogacy Agent Facing 27 Charges Continues her Controversial Work

A surrogacy agent facing 27 charges under a precedent-setting RCMP prosecution continues to forge ahead with her controversial work, offering cash incentives for recruiting new surrogate mothers, boasting that business has “boomed” and requesting consultant fees of more than $10,000 from people who use her services.

Among the charges levelled against Leia Picard last month are that she accepted payment for making surrogacy arrangements, barred under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.

On a surrogacy Facebook page, Ms. Picard indicates that she is preparing a Constitutional challenge of that nine-year-old law.

“I am … confident that in time, and through the judicial process, I will be cleared of all charges and, more importantly, laws will be changed,” she posted on the Canadian Surrogacy page. “This is not about me, it’s about laws that are abusive to those trying desperately to become parents. The Charter challenge my lawyers will launch will be a game changer.”

Sean Zaboroski, a fertility lawyer who works with Ms. Picard, said neither the fees she charges, nor the offers she has made online in any way violate...