Controversial conscience rights bill for Alberta physicians voted down

Controversial conscience rights bill for Alberta physicians voted down
'This is a very political thing and a very cynical thing and it is not about physicians'

Wallis Snowdon · CBC News
Posted: Nov 22, 2019

A controversial private member's bill that called for more protection for Alberta health workers who invoke conscience rights was rejected Thursday by an all-party committee of the legislature.

The Conscience Rights Act for Healthcare Workers, or Bill 207 — introduced by Peace River MLA and UCP (United Conservative Party) backbencher Dan Williams — would have meant doctors could not be sued or sanctioned for refusing to provide a service that goes against their moral beliefs.

Continued: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/conscience-rights-alberta-doctors-1.5369332


Canada – Stop Bill 207: “Abandoning Patients Act” Is Unconstitutional and Dangerous

Stop Bill 207: “Abandoning Patients Act” Is Unconstitutional and Dangerous

November 12, 2019
Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada

ALBERTA – A bill introduced on Nov 7 in the Alberta legislature is blatantly unconstitutional because it legalizes discrimination against vulnerable groups on the basis of “conscience.”

Bill 207, misleadingly titled Conscience Rights (Health Care Providers) Protection Act, was introduced by MLA Dan Williams of Alberta’s ruling Uterus Control Party (UCP). The bill is more aptly named the Abandoning Patients Act because it is a license for medical negligence.

Under the bill, health care professionals would enjoy complete immunity for refusing to provide a health care service they disagree with for personal or religious reason (so-called “conscientious objection”). The bill removes existing patient protections, including their right to a referral, and their ability to have a complaint heard or to launch a lawsuit.

Continued: http://www.arcc-cdac.ca/press/ARCC-CDAC-abandonpatients-Nov12-2019.pdf


Abortion Access In Alberta At Greater Risk With New Bill

Abortion Access In Alberta At Greater Risk With New Bill

Carli Whitwell
Last Updated November 8, 2019

Alberta doctors could refuse to refer women to abortion practitioners if a bill currently making its way through the provincial legislature is passed. Bill 207 would protect doctors from referring patients to procedures that conflict with their personal beliefs.

If it becomes law, the bill would be a blow to reproductive rights in the province. While abortion is legal across Canada, provinces regulate and determine access. And in Alberta, that access is already hit and miss. Crisis pregnancy centres — basically anti-choice centres masquerading as women’s support groups — outnumber clinics that provide abortions four to one. People outside of Calgary and Edmonton have limited access to clinics where surgical abortions take place, and it’s up to individual physicians to decide if they want to prescribe the abortion pill.

Continued: https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2019/11/8737607/abortion-bill-207-alberta


Canada – The pro-choice movement will defeat any threats to abortion rights

The pro-choice movement will defeat any threats to abortion rights

Joyce Arthur
August 8, 2019

Canada's pro-choice movement is in good fighting form, and stronger than ever. That's the undeniable conclusion after living through the roller-coaster ride of anti-choice activity over the last three months.

First, we saw the annual March for Life on Ottawa's Parliament Hill on May 9, as well as anti-choice rallies in cities across Canada including Toronto for the first time. Many anti-choice Parliamentarians attended these events and some spoke out, including Ontario MPP Sam Oosterhoff, with his infamous comment, "We pledge to make abortion unthinkable in our lifetime."

Continued: http://rabble.ca/columnists/2019/08/pro-choice-movement-will-defeat-any-threats-abortion-rights


Canada – (Alberta) Government ponders abortion protest bubble zones for schools

Government ponders abortion protest bubble zones for schools

Emma Graney
Updated: March 15, 2019

Health Minister Sarah Hoffman says her government will amend legislation to extend abortion protest bubble zones around K-12 schools in Alberta.

Hoffman’s decision comes on the back of social media footage from Calgary this week which showed anti-abortion protesters confronting students from Queen Elizabeth High School with placards as students entered their school.

Continued: https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/government-ponders-abortion-protest-bubble-zones-for-schools


How Canada’s growing anti-abortion movement plans to swing the next federal election

How Canada’s growing anti-abortion movement plans to swing the next federal election
Anti-abortion lobbyists cheered Ontario’s election as evidence of success. Next up: an ambitious strategy for 2019.

Anne Kingston
Sep 12, 2018

When Doug Ford, newly minted as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, took the stage at the party’s leadership convention last March, he conspicuously thanked one person standing behind him: Tanya Granic Allen, an outspoken social conservative and leadership hopeful. Ford spoke of his intent “to return our province to where it belongs” before making a show of shaking Granic Allen’s hand. It was a small gesture with big import that would have been missed by many: Ford’s debt to “socons” and, specifically, the anti-abortion lobby that enabled his win.

Granic Allen was the top choice of Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), a national group that works to nominate and elect candidates who oppose abortion at all levels of government, CLC vice-president Jeff Gunnarson tells Maclean’s.

Continued: https://www.macleans.ca/politics/how-canadas-growing-anti-abortion-movement-plans-to-swing-the-next-federal-election/


Alberta passes bill legislating ‘safe zones’ around abortion clinics

Alberta passes bill legislating 'safe zones' around abortion clinics
Bill sets 50-metre protester-free zones around stand-alone clinics in Edmonton and Calgary

Michelle Bellefontaine · CBC News
Posted: May 30, 2018

A bill setting a 50-metre protester-free zone around the province's two stand-alone abortion clinics passed Wednesday in the Alberta legislature.

The bill passed 45-1 without participation of members from the Official Opposition United Conservative Party.

Continued: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-passes-bill-legislating-safe-zones-around-abortion-clinics-1.4684773


Canada – No-go abortion clinic zones in Alberta bill

No-go abortion clinic zones in Alberta bill
News Apr 5, 2018

EDMONTON — Alberta has introduced legislation to keep protesters at least 50 metres away from abortion clinics, and to make it illegal for demonstrators to video, record audio or take pictures of people entering or leaving the building.

The province would also, if asked, designate similar no-go zones around homes and offices of doctors and other staff who provide abortions.

Continued: https://www.northumberlandnews.com/news-story/8376269-no-go-abortion-clinic-zones-in-alberta-bill/


Canada – Bill to set 50-metre, no-protester zone around Alberta abortion clinics

Bill to set 50-metre, no-protester zone around Alberta abortion clinics

'It is a great day for women who need this': Proposed legislation carries $10,000 fine for repeat offenders

Michelle Bellefontaine · CBC News
Posted: Apr 05, 2018

Protesters who repeatedly violate a "safe zone" proposed for Alberta's two stand-alone abortion clinics could face a maximum $10,000 fine under proposed legislation introduced Thursday.

Bill 9, the Protecting Choice for Women Accessing Health Care Act, would mean protesters could not stand within 50-metre zones of the Kensington Clinic in Calgary and Women's Health Options in Edmonton.

Continued: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/bill-to-set-50-metre-no-protester-zone-around-alberta-abortion-clinics-1.4607088