Canada – Right-wing extremism is connected to being anti-choice – but we can win on abortion rights

As we see the growing restriction of abortion in the US, it is important that we remain vigilant of a growing anti-choice movement on the right.

by Joyce Arthur, rabble.ca
February 8, 2024

Canada has done well without any abortion law or restrictions since 1988, leaving abortion care under the same medical regulations as other healthcare. Indeed, abortion care follows the same pattern around the world regardless of law – people who want abortions have them as early as possible, while a small number of later abortions will always be needed for compelling social or medical reasons. Laws trying to regulate abortion are redundant and restrictions are harmful.

Abroad, Canada has a reputation as a socially liberal western democracy that guarantees reproductive rights and minority rights such as for gender expansive people. The Liberal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has a self-declared feminist foreign policy and has often spoken out in favour of abortion rights.

Continued: https://rabble.ca/health/right-wing-extremism-is-connected-to-being-anti-choice-but-we-can-win-on-abortion-rights/

Canada – N.B. medical groups call for greater abortion access following Clinic 554 closure

By Silas Brown Global News
February 5, 2024

Some medical groups are calling on the provincial government to expand access to surgical abortions following the closure of Clinic 554.

Dr. Amanda Black, the president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, says that it’s unacceptable to leave large swaths of the province without local access to surgical abortion procedures. “It shouldn’t depend on what part of the country you live in, all individuals in Canada should have access to certain levels of reproductive care,” she said.

Continued: https://globalnews.ca/news/10273741/clinic-554-closure-medical-groups/

05.02.2024

News

Blaine Higgs

Canadian Civil Liberties Association

New Brunswick Medical Society

Shannon Hardy

Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada

Canada

Health

Human Rights

Things have to change: New Brunswick can no longer ignore its responsibility with regards to abortion access

by Regroupement féministe du Nouveau-Brunswick.
February 2, 2024

Regroupement féministe du Nouveau-Brunswick (RFNB) is devastated to learn of the definitive closure of Fredericton’s Clinic 554. Yesterday, outside the New Brunswick Legislature, Dr. Adrian Edgar announced that, due to the doubling of the clinic’s rent and the lack of public funding, his team would no longer be able to provide abortion services, effective immediately. In addition to an entire region being denied access to essential health care, this event highlights the current government’s misogynistic and classist legislation.

We call on all New Brunswick politicians to take responsibility for guaranteeing universal, free, safe and bilingual access to abortion care for all pregnant people! Things have to change.

Continued: https://nbmediacoop.org/2024/02/02/things-have-to-change-new-brunswick-can-no-longer-ignore-its-responsibility-with-regards-to-abortion-access-commentary/

Canada – Mysterious robocall survey polling Albertans on parental consent for abortions

Mark Villani and Brendan Ellis, CTV News
Feb. 2, 2024

A mysterious phone survey is making the rounds in Alberta, asking residents if minors should need parental consent to get an abortion -- but it's not clear who initiated the campaign. Many Albertans started receiving the call on Thursday night.

"Minors do not, however, require the consent of their parents to get an abortion in Alberta, nor is it required for parents to even be notified about their minor child's abortion," part of the pre-recorded message said.

Continued: https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/mysterious-robocall-survey-polling-albertans-on-parental-consent-for-abortions-1.6754063

Clinic 554 to close, bringing clinic-based abortions to end in Fredericton area

Dr. Adrian Edgar says pro-bono work, increased rent costs are forcing immediate closure of clinic

Aidan Cox · CBC News
Jan 31, 2024

A Fredericton clinic that provides surgical abortions will be closing its doors after Wednesday, with its medical director blaming an unwillingness by the provincial government to allow the procedure to be covered by Medicare.

Dr. Adrian Edgar, the clinic's medical director, announced in 2019 he was being forced to close Clinic 554 over financial pressures incurred from providing pro-bono abortion procedures to women who can't afford to pay for them out of pocket.

On Wednesday, Edgar said the clinic, which has been operating one day a week, will now close completely because of the continuing financial strain from providing the procedure free of charge, and a rent increase at Brunswick Street building that houses the clinic.

Continued: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/clinic-554-fredericton-abortion-1.7100433

Canadians’ Attitudes Toward Abortion

A review and synthesis of evidence based literature

Jessica Pratezina and Jessica Ball
January 12, 2024

In 1988, Canada became one of the few countries in the world without legal restrictions on abortion. There are no federal or provincial laws controlling abortion; it's considered a medical matter between a person and their healthcare provider. Abortion is seen as an essential medical service covered by the Canadian healthcare system.

… What do Canadians Think and Feel about Abortion?
Most Canadians (56%) want abortion to be safe and legal. At the same time, Canadians' attitudes towards abortion are more complicated than can be captured in opinion polls. These complex attitudes impact not only whether people are able to choose abortion, but also what their experience will be like if and when they do.

Continued: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/28ca3bb9e0ad45f28a68d677eda6baee

12.01.2024

Research

Canadian attitudes to abortion

Jessica Ball

Jessica Pratezina

religion and abortion

Canada

Health

Human Rights

Canada – ‘They will be refused care’: Inside an American ally’s decision to warn citizens about the US

Abortion rulings and anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the States moved Ottawa to alert Canadians about travel risks.

By ZI-ANN LUM
Dec 24, 2023

OTTAWA — It was a polite Canadian warning from a close friend and neighbor. But Canada’s updated travel advisory to its citizens, counseling them to be careful about traveling to the United States, set off an international furor last summer.

The message renewed attention over the rightward shift in state-level policies governing abortion and the rights of LGBTQ+ people — a trend that has stirred deep concern in Canada, especially after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Continued: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/24/canada-us-travel-advisory-00132936

24.12.2023

Commentary

2SLGBTQI+

Cindy Moriarty

Global Affairs Canada

Justin Trudeau

LGBTQ rights

Mélanie Joly

risks of travelling to America

Canada – Decriminalizing Abortion: A Journey Towards Access and Equity

Dec 6, 2023
Written by Clare Szalay Timbo, Executive Director at The SexEd Justice Project, and Andrea Rodriguez, Policy and Advocacy Officer at Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights

In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the country’s abortion law as unconstitutional, asserting that it violated women’s Charter rights to the security of the person. Since then, abortion has been removed from the Criminal Code and is treated and regulated as a medical procedure. Canada stands out globally as one of only a few countries without specific legal restrictions on abortion.

The full decriminalization of abortion is a critical step towards recognition that abortion is a fundamental human right and ensuring universal access to abortion care. Importantly, decriminalizing abortion preserves legal protections for harms against pregnant people, such as forced abortions or other types of physical harm.

Continued: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/news/2023-12-06-decriminalizing-abortion-journey-towards-access-and-equity

06.12.2023

Commentary

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights

Andrea Rodriguez

Canada Health Act

Clare Szalay Timbo

decriminalization of abortion

NAF Canada

SexEd Justice Project

Supreme Court of Canada

Canada – Women’s health advocates applaud Manitoba’s plan to subsidize prescription birth control

NDP promised universal coverage of select contraceptives during election campaign

CBC News
Nov 22, 2023

Birth control will soon become free for all Manitobans with a prescription, the province announced Tuesday. The announcement, made during Premier Wab Kinew's Tuesday throne speech, makes good on an election promise the NDP campaigned on. The party previously pegged the cost to implement the universal coverage of select contraceptives at $11 million per year.

"Reproductive health care is a right. Our government will protect and affirm Manitobans' right to access abortion services, protect abortion providers and make prescription birth control free," said Tuesday's speech, which was read by Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville in the legislature.

Continued: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-throne-speech-birth-control-1.7035927

22.11.2023

IUD and Women's Clinic

Klinic Community Health

Canada – Allow surgical abortions in N.B. clinics, federal report says

Study says Ottawa lacks ‘straightforward’ authority to force province to improve access

Jacques Poitras · CBC News
Nov 14, 2023

A highly anticipated research study on surgical abortion access in New Brunswick recommends the province allow doctors to perform the procedure in community clinics as a way of eliminating barriers to the procedure.

But the report does not call on the federal government — which commissioned the study — to force the province to act, saying it's not clear Ottawa has a legal leg to stand on.

Its lead author, former University of New Brunswick law professor Jula Hughes, says the data from hospital abortions and those at Fredericton's Clinic 554 proves that "hospital access is just slower."

Continued: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/federal-report-calls-on-nb-to-allow-abortions-in-clinics-1.7028034

14.11.2023