Access to reproductive care not only provides for better health outcomes for women and people who can become pregnant, but economic ones as well.

by Jacqueline Potvin
August 26, 2025

These impacts would have been just one consequence of a Conservative Government’s embrace of right-wing ‘anti-woke’ discourse and policy, which also included attacks on gender diversity and trans rights. Despite the threats posed by such discourse, the Conservative Party garnered significant support during the election campaign, positioning themselves as the party best able to grow Canada’s economy. Shortly before the election and in the context of threatened tariffs from the US, Canadians identified the cost of living and affordability as the issue that was most likely to influence their vote.

For advocates of gender equality and reproductive rights, Canada’s 2025 federal election was particularly nerve-wracking. Despite Pierre Poilievre’s claim that his party would not seek to make abortion illegal, the Conservatives ran several new candidates who were explicitly anti-choice, and the party platform would have had a negative impact on reproductive rights, including by reducing access to abortion.

Continued: https://rabble.ca/feminism/abortion-is-an-economic-issue-reflections-from-the-federal-election/