How will Canada lead on sexual and reproductive health and rights in the era of Trump?

Barely two months into his Presidency, Donald Trump has devastated global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

by Jacqueline Potvin
March 21, 2025

On January 24, Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy (the “global gag rule,”) which restricts US global health funding from going to any non-government organization that provides abortion services, advocacy, or information.

This reinstatement will harm women and people who can become pregnant, limiting their access to important healthcare information and services. Its effects will be exacerbated by wide-sweeping cuts to US Agency for International Development (USAID) funding and staff. These moves come at a time when Canada’s own commitments to global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), which have recently been strong, may be at risk.

Continued: https://rabble.ca/human-rights/how-will-canada-lead-on-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights-in-the-era-of-trump/

Abortion access in Canada ahead of a federal election

rabble radio
Podcast: 30 minutes
January 24, 2025

In 2022, when Roe v. Wade was overturned in the United States, it sent shockwaves through Canada as we questioned how this decision might impact us. For many, it sparked a new sense of concern that similar actions could be taken here, prompting a closer examination of the work needed to strengthen and expand reproductive rights and access in Canada.

This week, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. While he promises to usher in a “golden age,” in the five days he’s been in power, he’s already made extremely harmful decisions concerning health care, gender identity, citizenship, the environment and much more.

Continued: https://rabble.ca/podcast/abortion-access-in-canada-ahead-of-a-federal-election/

24.01.2025

Interviews/Podcasts

abortion access barriers

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada

crisis pregnancy centres

Canada – New West to become first B.C. city restricting the delivery of graphic abortion images

Abortion-related flyers will need to be in opaque envelopes that have a warning and sender’s address when being distributed in New Westminster.

Theresa McManus
Dec 17, 2024

New Westminster is set to become the first B.C. city to adopt a bylaw restricting the delivery of graphic images.

On Monday, council unanimously supported a graphic image delivery bylaw that will regulate the unsolicited delivery of graphic abortion-related flyers to residences. The bylaw will require materials with graphic images to be delivered inside an opaque envelope that has a warning on the outside and information showing the name and address of the sender; the bylaw is specific to graphic images of aborted fetuses and does not apply to offensive graphic images in general.

“We know that New Westminster and Burnaby are the two municipalities that apparently have received these … flyers delivered without envelopes, to many, many homes,” said Coun. Ruby Campbell. “And I am just horrified that that's been happening.”

Continued: https://www.newwestrecord.ca/local-news/new-west-to-become-first-bc-city-restricting-the-delivery-of-graphic-abortion-images-9965990

18.12.2024

News

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada

anti-choice graphic images

Daniel Fontaine

graphic images of aborted fetuses

Canada – Abortion numbers in the NWT remain publicly undisclosed

Conservative candidate says she's pro-choice, but rights group has labelled party as anti-choice based on voting history

Devon Tredinnick
Dec 5, 2024

The NWT Health and Social Services Authority will not release a breakdown of data on abortions performed through the Northern Operations for Women (NOW) Program, citing privacy concerns.

However, Joyce Arthur, the executive director for the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, maintained that withholding such information adds to the stigma surrounding abortion. "There's no reason not to be upfront about it and transparent as with any other healthcare procedure," she said, noting there could also be some concern over outing people who provide abortions, though there's much less harassment towards them then there used to be in the 1990s.

Continued: https://www.nnsl.com/home/abortion-numbers-in-the-nwt-remain-publicly-undisclosed-7672039

05.12.2024

News

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada

Cathay Wagantall

Joyce Arthur

Kimberly Fairman

Northern Operations for Women

NWT Health and Social Services Authority

Abortion Rights in Canada: Here to stay?

Incé Husain, Antler River Media Co-op
Mon November 4, 2024

On Thursday, October 24, an abortion rights protest clustered at the intersection of Southdale Road West and Notre Dame Drive. Five protesters stood in a line. Three raised familiar abortion rights signs that read “Honk for pro-choice”, “Safe and legal abortion is pro-life”, and “Keep your rosaries off my ovaries”.

The remaining two held more specific signs. “Go home, Abby” read one. “Hellenic centre hosts RACIST,” read the other.

Continued: https://antlerrivermedia.ca/abortion-rights-in-canada-here-to-stay/

04.11.2024

Commentary

Abby Johnson

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada

Deanna Ronson

Dr Jennifer Gunter

Joseph Borowski

London Reproductive Justice

SisterSong Women of Colour Reproductive Justice Collective

Abortion Rights Issue Surfaces in Canada Before U.S. Election

The Canadian government proposed legislation this week to crack down on anti-abortion organizations that provide “dishonest counseling” to pregnant women.

By Vjosa Isai
Nov. 2, 2024

When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the House of Commons this week regarding abortion rights, he also had a message for his daughter, who was seated in the gallery.

“I want her to hear me as long as everyone else does,” Mr. Trudeau said. “This government is unequivocally pro-choice. We will always defend a woman’s right to choose.”

Mr. Trudeau’s Liberal Party on Tuesday revisited a 2021 campaign promise to penalize anti-abortion organizations that it said provided “dishonest counseling” to pregnant women.

Unlocked: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/02/world/canada/abortion-rights-canada-election.html?unlocked_article_code=1.XE4.jBsD.xtVibwEEkzuf&smid=url-share

Canada – Liberals take ‘softer approach’ on pledge to revoke charity status for pregnancy counselling

Trudeau had promised to 'no longer provide charity status to anti-abortion organizations' that offer 'dishonest counselling to women'

Stephanie Taylor, National Post
Nov 01, 2024

OTTAWA — Federal New Democrats are criticizing the Liberals’ plan to allow charities offering pregnancy counselling to keep their tax status if they advertise how their services exclude abortion — a move that differs from what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had promised during the last federal election.

In 2021, Trudeau ran on a platform that included a promise to “no longer provide charity status to anti-abortion organizations” that provide “dishonest counselling to women” about their pregnancy options.

Continued: https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/liberals-take-softer-approach-pledge-revoking-charity-status-pregnancy-counselling

Canada – NDP plan motion to push back against anti-abortion ‘creep’ from Conservatives

October 24, 2024

OTTAWA — The NDP is taking aim at the Conservatives on abortion by putting forward a motion to call out what it calls a “creep” of legislation, petitions and threats aimed at reducing access to abortion.

Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will use its next opposition day to force the House of Commons to debate and vote on a motion calling for urgent action to improve abortion access.

Continued https://montreal.citynews.ca/2024/10/24/ndp-motion-anti-abortion-conservatives/

24.10.2024

News

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada

BC,Canada – Are Reproductive Rights on the Ballot This Election?

What the BC NDP and BC Conservatives are promising on abortion, free contraception and cervical cancer screening and treatment.

Michelle Gamage, The Tyee
Sep 26, 2024

Premier David Eby says women’s reproductive rights are on the ballot this election because he claims the Conservatives would cut $4.1 billion from the health-care budget, and that could impact free birth control, home cervical cancer screening tests and expanded gynecological cancer treatment and surgery.

Eby made the comment at a Vancouver campaign event on Sept. 12 where he announced hormone replacement therapy would be made free for people going through menopause.

Continued: https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/09/26/Are-Reproductive-Rights-Ballot-Election/

Canada – Why anti-abortion groups should not be teaching sex-ed

Unlike abortion clinics, so-called “crisis pregnancy centres” are not subject to any sort of regulation.

by Julia Moraes, Rabble.ca
September 24, 2024

As we move back into the school year, there is a growing concern among parents and educators that students aren’t getting the sex-ed that they deserve. Over the years, a growing number of anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centres” (CPCs) have been delivering sex education in public schools using a biased, religiously-based perspective that can be misleading and stigmatizing.

Crisis pregnancy centres often present themselves as impartial medical clinics or counselling centres for pregnant individuals. In reality, most CPCs are anti-abortion organizations with religious affiliations whose primary objective is to dissuade pregnant people from exercising their choice to terminate their pregnancy.

Continued: https://rabble.ca/feminism/why-anti-abortion-groups-should-not-be-teaching-sex-ed/