The Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques (IRIS) released a study on June 11, 2026 that projects providing free contraception to all residents of Quebec would cost about $22 million each year. The same analysis estimates that such a program could lower the province’s rate of unplanned pregnancies by roughly 25 percent.
IRIS, a socioeconomic research organization, based its calculations on a model that compares the current situation—where Quebec does not have a universal free‑contraception policy—with a scenario in which all forms of contraceptives are offered at no charge to anyone who needs them. The model incorporates the cost of purchasing and distributing the products as well as administrative expenses associated with a province‑wide rollout.
According to the figures presented, the annual budget required for a universal free‑contraception scheme would be $22 million. In return, the model predicts a one‑quarter decline in unintended pregnancies, a metric that health officials often use to gauge the effectiveness of reproductive‑health interventions.
The projected reduction in unplanned pregnancies carries implications for the broader health system. Fewer unintended births could translate into lower demand for prenatal and postnatal services, as well as a decrease in costs related to social support programs tied to early motherhood. While the study does not provide a detailed breakdown of long‑term savings, the reduction figure suggests a notable shift in public‑health outcomes.
Quebec presently lacks a province‑wide program that offers contraception free of charge, a gap that motivated IRIS to explore the fiscal and health impacts of such a policy. By quantifying both the financial outlay and the potential health benefit, the research offers policymakers concrete data to consider when debating reproductive‑health initiatives.
The IRIS study concludes that a $22 million annual investment could produce a substantial decline in unplanned pregnancies, highlighting a clear cost‑benefit relationship for a universal free‑contraception approach in Quebec.