When it comes to women’s reproductive health, Canada is not the 51st state

April 11, 2025
By Laura Schummers and Wendy V. Norman

Voters who care about reproductive rights should be demanding clear positions from their candidates on protecting Canada’s legacy in reproductive health policy and access. As erosion of reproductive rights and freedoms unfolds rapidly across the U.S., this is not the time for complacency in Canada.

We shouldn’t assume that Canada will continue as a global leader in upholding reproductive rights and access.

Most Canadians have lived with evidence-based reproductive health policy for so long that they take it to be the global norm, but it is not. Since 1988, abortion has been legally recognized as a standard medical procedure in Canada, free from criminal laws that either protect or restrict it.

Continued: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/when-it-comes-to-womens-reproductive-health-canada-is-not-the-51st-state/article_fc30cbbf-ec69-4d6d-9641-748c206bd942.html

11.04.2025

Opinion

abortion pills

barriers to abortion access

Access to abortion services in Ontario rose in five- year period after mifepristone arrival: study

The Globe and Mail (BC Edition)
7 Apr 2025
KRISTY KIRKUP, HEALTH REPORTER OTTAWA

Access to abortion services at the local level in Ontario substantially increased within a five-year period after a drug known as mifepristone became available for use in Canada in 2017, according to newly released findings.

A study published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal sheds light on how mifepristone dispensed by local pharmacies in the country’s most populous province changed access to services.

The drug, approved for use by Health Canada, blocks the hormone progesterone, which is needed for a pregnancy to continue. Cramping and bleeding then begins that empties the uterus. It is commonly dubbed the “abortion pill.”

Continued: https://globe2go.pressreader.com/article/281625311126579

07.04.2025

News

Research

abortion pill

Canadian Medical Association

Canada – Yukon woman shines light on the cracks in abortion access in the territory

Prohibitive costs, limited services, and stigma make obtaining abortion care challenging, say some physicians

Cali McTavish · CBC News
Mar 03, 2025

A Yukon woman is raising the alarm about the cost and difficulty of accessing abortion medication in the territory.

Jane Doe says she had to seek an abortion through the emergency room, because the Opal clinic — the territory's only dedicated abortion services provider — is only open one day a week, for four hours. Jane Doe is a pseudonym. CBC is not disclosing her identity for personal safety reasons.

That day, she says, she was left waiting, watching other patients come and go, until a female doctor was on shift — even though she hadn't asked to be seen by a female doctor.

Continued: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-woman-shines-light-on-the-cracks-in-abortion-access-in-the-territory-1.7472276

03.03.2025

Sigourny Whipple-Grantham

telemedicine abortion

Yukon abortion access

Yukon Status of Women Council

Yukon Strategy for Patient Oriented Research

Canada

Health

Human Rights

Canada – What is abortion access like in the NWT?

Emily Blake
Thursday November 28, 2024

While many people face challenges accessing healthcare in the North, advocates say a program is helping people access reproductive choice and abortion services in the NWT.

The Northern Options for Women (or Now) Program has existed for more than a decade.

The confidential program offers pregnancy options counselling, ultrasound evaluation, abortion services, prescriptions for birth control after abortions, and referral to other support services to people experiencing unwanted or abnormal pregnancies and miscarriages.

Continued: https://cabinradio.ca/212107/news/health/what-is-abortion-access-like-in-the-nwt/

Canadian non-profit that facilitates abortion pill access sees surge in U.S. requests

By Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press
November 27, 2024

A Canadian non-profit that helps women obtain the abortion pill in countries with restrictions says it saw a fourfold increase in U.S. requests after the presidential election.

The majority of inquiries came from women who were not pregnant, suggesting many want the drug on hand in case they need it, says Venny Ala-Siurua, executive director of Women on Web.

Ala-Siurua, based in Montreal, says some women fear abortions could become illegal or harder to access in the U.S. after Donald Trump takes office.

Continued: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/11/27/canadian-non-profit-that-facilitates-abortion-pill-access-sees-surge-in-u-s-requests/

Quebec announces province’s first abortion access plan

It includes $7.5 million to be spent on information campaigns, improving access to abortion services, research and consultations.

Jack Wilson
Published Nov 18, 2024

Quebec will make it easier for women to obtain the abortion pill, increase funding to pro-choice organizations and support additional abortion services as part of a three-year plan to bolster access to abortion, says Martine Biron, minister for the status of women.

The action plan outlines steps the government will take between now and 2027 and is Quebec’s first plan to improve access to abortion.

“Everywhere in the world, we’re seeing setbacks in women’s rights. A shock wave came in 2022 with the reversal of Roe v. Wade” in the United States, Biron said Monday.

Continued: https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-announces-provinces-first-abortion-access-plan

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/

Abortion in S. Korea: neither illegal nor legal

Despite 2019 Constitutional Court order, revision of abortion laws remains pending in National Assembly

By Lee Jaeeun
March 7, 2024

A 33-year-old woman surnamed Kim, living in Seoul, was taken by surprise when she found out she was pregnant late last year.

With no intention of getting married or having a child on her own, she began searching for hospitals that would terminate the pregnancy for her. While searching online, Kim encountered numerous advertisements and blogs listing prices for abortions by vacuum aspiration. The prices varied according to the stage of pregnancy: 600,000 won ($450) before week 7 and 900,000 won before week 10.

Continued: https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240307050821

Canada – N.B. medical groups call for greater abortion access following Clinic 554 closure

By Silas Brown Global News
February 5, 2024

Some medical groups are calling on the provincial government to expand access to surgical abortions following the closure of Clinic 554.

Dr. Amanda Black, the president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, says that it’s unacceptable to leave large swaths of the province without local access to surgical abortion procedures. “It shouldn’t depend on what part of the country you live in, all individuals in Canada should have access to certain levels of reproductive care,” she said.

Continued: https://globalnews.ca/news/10273741/clinic-554-closure-medical-groups/

05.02.2024

News

Blaine Higgs

Canadian Civil Liberties Association

New Brunswick Medical Society

Shannon Hardy

Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada

Canada

Health

Human Rights

Things have to change: New Brunswick can no longer ignore its responsibility with regards to abortion access

by Regroupement féministe du Nouveau-Brunswick.
February 2, 2024

Regroupement féministe du Nouveau-Brunswick (RFNB) is devastated to learn of the definitive closure of Fredericton’s Clinic 554. Yesterday, outside the New Brunswick Legislature, Dr. Adrian Edgar announced that, due to the doubling of the clinic’s rent and the lack of public funding, his team would no longer be able to provide abortion services, effective immediately. In addition to an entire region being denied access to essential health care, this event highlights the current government’s misogynistic and classist legislation.

We call on all New Brunswick politicians to take responsibility for guaranteeing universal, free, safe and bilingual access to abortion care for all pregnant people! Things have to change.

Continued: https://nbmediacoop.org/2024/02/02/things-have-to-change-new-brunswick-can-no-longer-ignore-its-responsibility-with-regards-to-abortion-access-commentary/