U.S. taking ‘obstructionist’ approach to UN’s efforts to foster equality: ambassador

By Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
July 4, 2026

OTTAWA — The Trump administration is hindering work at the United Nations on advancing equality, says Canada’s UN Ambassador David Lametti.

“There has been a general obstructionist policy, (a) cantankerous policy with respect to women’s rights, a woman’s right to choose, with respect to LGBTQ+ rights (and) gender equality,” Lametti told The Canadian Press when asked to describe American actions at the UN.

“There’s a pushback any time you see the word ‘climate change’ anywhere, or you see ‘gender equality’ anywhere,” he added.

Continued: https://winnipeg.citynews.ca/2026/07/04/u-s-taking-obstructionist-approach-to-uns-efforts-to-foster-equality-ambassador/

Trump’s abortion ‘gag rule’ has Canadian aid sector asking Ottawa to show leadership

By The Canadian Press
May 17, 2026

OTTAWA — Canadian aid groups are deliberating how to respond to American policies that block U.S. aid for virtually any group in developing countries that provides abortion, science-based sexual health information or LGBTQ+ advocacy.

The rollback of feminist aid has those groups calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to assemble a coalition of like-minded nations to defend sexual health programming.

“People are more likely to die because they’re not receiving this kind of assistance,” said Erin Kiley, director of international programs at Oxfam Canada.

Continued: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/trumps-abortion-gag-rule-has-canadian-aid-sector-asking-ottawa-to-show-leadership/

U.S. expansion of the global gag rule is a leadership test for Canada

The Trump administration is further restricting health funding worldwide. It’s in Canada’s interests to lead on reproductive rights and global health.

March 23, 2026
Caitlin Goggin

Some policy changes arrive with a bang. They dominate headlines because their intent is obvious and their consequences are immediate.

Others are more pernicious. Their effects are not felt first in Parliament or at news conferences, but in clinics, classrooms and communities far from capital cities and power centres.

The latest expansion by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration of what was known as the Mexico City policy fits squarely in the latter category.

continued: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/03/trump-global-gag-rule-canada-response/

23.03.2026

Foreign aid groups urge Canada to maintain funding for abortion, LGBTQ+ advocacy

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
Feb 16, 2026

OTTAWA - Feminist and development groups are urging Canada not to turn its back on funding reproductive health and gender initiatives, as Canada focuses its foreign aid cuts on global health programming.

"A bold diplomatic voice is really crucial," Oxfam Canada executive director Lauren Ravon told a panel she hosted on Parliament Hill earlier this month.

Continued: https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/foreign-aid-groups-urge-canada-to-maintain-funding-for-abortion-lgbtq-advocacy/article_322b0c7b-beef-5035-87ec-405a44751a26.html

Canada – The evidence is clear: National pharmacare for contraception can’t wait

October 9, 2025
Elizabeth Nethery, Amanda Black, Amanda K Downey, Laura Schummers, Wendy V. Norman

Why should women in British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and the Yukon have access to free contraception while the rest of Canadians do not? Our new research, published in the British Medical Journal and JAMA Pediatrics, underscores the urgent need for universal prescription contraception coverage nationwide. Spoiler alert: cost matters.

When B.C. launched universal coverage for prescription contraception in April 2023, more people used contraceptives, and importantly, more chose the most effective methods. When Ontario introduced universal coverage for those younger than age 25 in January 2017, we found a similar jump in the most effective contraceptive methods.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/the-evidence-is-clear-national-pharmacare-for-contraception-cant-wait-264967

Trudeau made headlines with free birth control. Why didn’t Canada follow through?

Nearly a year after a historic law promised free contraception, most provinces still haven’t signed on

Olivia Bowden in Toronto
Wed 24 Sep 2025

It was touted as a historic move that would change lives: in October 2024, Canada passed new legislation making all birth control free.

Justin Trudeau, then prime minister, called the bill’s passing “real progress”. The leftwing New Democratic party took credit, saying they had convinced Trudeau’s governing Liberals to move ahead with it. The bill didn’t just cover birth control: it made diabetes medication free, too, and ushered in a legal framework to possibly cover all prescription medication in the future: a national pharmacare plan.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/24/canada-free-birth-control-law

Canada – Abortion is an economic issue: Reflections from the federal election

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/

26.08.2025

abortion and economics

abortion and the economy

economics and abortion

Women and Gender Equality ministry

Canada – Where do Canada federal election candidates stand on abortion?

What Prime Minister Carney, Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh have said about a woman's right to choose

Elizabeth Di Filippo
Thu, April 24, 2025

The Canadian federal election is just a few days away. While some voters have cast their ballots early, many are waiting for Monday, April 28 to hit the polls. Although political tensions between Canada and the U.S. and the ongoing trade war have been major talking points, human rights and access to health care also remain a top-of-mind concern for vulnerable Canadians, particularly women and members of the LGBTQ community.

In 2022, many Canadians have watched as the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, reversing the constitutional right to a safe and legal abortion. The repealing of abortion laws caused many to wonder whether the same could happen in Canada, and highlighted areas of access to abortion that need improvement.

Continued: https://ca.style.yahoo.com/where-do-canada-federal-election-candidates-stand-on-abortion-what-prime-minister-carney-pierre-poilievre-and-jagmeet-singh-have-said-about-a-womans-right-to-choose-194324676.html

24.04.2025

Canada – Poilievre vows not to pass abortion restrictions if elected prime minister

By Craig Lord The Canadian Press
April 11, 2025

A Conservative government would not pass any laws to restrict access to abortion, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Friday during a campaign stop in southern Ontario.

“There will be no laws or other restrictions imposed on a woman’s right to decide to do with her body as she wishes,” he said. “And that is something that I am guaranteeing to you and to all Canadians.”

Poilievre said it has been the Conservative party’s policy for 21 years that there will be no restrictions introduced on a woman’s right to choose.

Continued: https://globalnews.ca/news/11127562/canada-election-poilievre-abortion/

11.04.2025

Canada – Exactly where do the Conservatives stand on abortion?

April 10, 2025
By Althia Raj, National Columnist

Half way through this federal election campaign and one word has yet to be uttered: abortion.

Maybe it’s because U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten our economy. Maybe it’s because Liberal Leader Mark Carney appears to be heading toward a win. Maybe it’s because Pierre Poilievre declared himself to be pro-choice. But so far the Conservative leader has escaped the pesky question his predecessors grappled with: how would he safeguard a women’s right to choose?

Continued: https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/exactly-where-do-the-conservatives-stand-on-abortion/article_be69d467-d037-4954-a9ac-69ea637da028.html

10.04.2025