The sorry state of abortion access in Saskatchewan

The sorry state of abortion access in Saskatchewan

Sask Dispatch, by Sara Birrell
Sep 5, 2019

It has been more than 30 years since the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in R. v. Morgentaler found Canada’s anti-abortion laws to be such an egregious overreach of state power that they violate Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the right to “life, liberty, and security of the person.” Since then, under the law, abortion has been treated as what it is: a morally and ethically neutral medical treatment. But while the decision ostensibly means that any pregnant person should be able to access medical (that is, induced by a drug) or surgical abortions at any time, the nature of the Canadian health-care system, which puts control of services in the hands of the provinces, means that abortion care is a patchwork that leaves many pregnant Canadians – especially those who are poor, Indigenous, young, or in rural and remote communities – to endure unwanted pregnancies.

Continued: https://briarpatchmagazine.com/saskdispatch/view/the-sorry-state-of-abortion-access-in-saskatchewan


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 – Activists condemn Canadian cinema chain for screening anti-abortion film

Activists condemn Canadian cinema chain for screening anti-abortion film
Cineplex Entertainment criticized for screening Unplanned, which is said to promote falsehoods about reproductive health

Tracey Lindeman in Ottawa
Tue 9 Jul 2019

Abortion rights defenders in Canada have accused the country’s largest cinema chain of hiding behind freedom of expression laws in order to screen a controversial US anti-choice film which has been described as “anti-abortion propaganda”.

The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC) said Cineplex Entertainment has “made a decision based on money, not freedom of speech” by choosing to screen Unplanned. ARCC executive director Joyce Arthur said: “The movie theatres who are agreeing to show this film under the guise of free speech are publicly legitimizing anti-choice views.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/09/canadian-abortion-rights-group-condemns-cinema-chain-over-anti-choice-film


Canada – Pro-choice groups call on Alberta Health Services to stop linking to anti-abortion organizations

Pro-choice groups call on Alberta Health Services to stop linking to anti-abortion organizations

By Kevin Maimann, StarMetro Edmonton
Mon., Nov. 19, 2018

EDMONTON—Pro-choice groups are calling on a government-run website to stop referring Albertans with reproductive health questions to agencies they deem anti-choice, transphobic and homophobic.

InformAlberta, an online directory of publicly funded or non-profit health, community and government organizations and services, links to anti-abortion groups and faith-based crisis pregnancy care centres — alongside legitimate medical resources — when users search terms such as abortion, sexual health education, teen pregnancy, and pregnancy test.

Continued: https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2018/11/19/pro-choice-groups-call-on-alberta-health-services-to-stop-linking-to-anti-abortion-organizations.html