Canada Is In A Bad Place Re: Abortion, But Here's Some Good News

[Nihil Obstat]

Nearly every politician in Canada is afraid to touch this issue, including the so-called Conservatives, but we can still win small victories.
 
 
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/morgentaler-clinic-closure-what-impact-on-abortion-access-1.1920128


Published Friday, July 18, 2014 11:37AM EDT
Last Updated Friday, July 18, 2014 12:12PM EDT

Friday marks the last day that women in New Brunswick will have access to abortions free of restrictions as the Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton, the only private abortion facility in the Maritimes, prepares to close its doors.

Can women still have abortions in New Brunswick?

The Morgentaler Clinic was the only facility in the province where women could get an abortion free of restrictions. Abortions are performed in two hospitals in the province, but they require that two doctors certify, in writing, that the procedure is medically necessary.
Dr. Henry Morgentaler launched a lawsuit in 2002, aimed at forcing the New Brunswick government to pay for abortions at clinics. The lawsuit was dropped after Morgentaler's death in May 2013.
The clinic announced in April that it was closing after being in operation for nearly 20 years. The clinic's manager said it had lost approximately $100,000 in the last 10 years.

Where else can women have abortions in the Maritimes?

The closure of the Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton means there's no private abortion clinics in the Maritimes.
Prince Edward Island does not provide abortions in-province, so women seeking abortions must travel out-of-province. Physician and hospital costs for the procedure are covered by the provincial health care plan, but require a doctors' referral. The request is also reviewed by the Medicare Medical Consultant.
In Nova Scotia, abortions performed in hospitals are free with a doctor's referral. Abortions cannot be performed in the province after 15 weeks and 5 days into the pregnancy.
 
 Are abortions taxpayer funded in the province?

Abortion isn't covered by medicare in the province unless it is deemed medically necessary and performed by a specialist in an approved hospital.
The Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton charged between $700 and $850 for the procedure, depending on how far along in her pregnancy the woman is.
Dr. Henry Morgentaler launched a lawsuit in 2002, aimed at forcing the New Brunswick government to pay for abortions at clinics. The lawsuit was dropped after Morgentaler's death in May 2013.
The clinic announced in April that it was closing after being in operation for nearly 20 years. The clinic's manager said it had lost approximately $100,000 in the last 10 years.

What has the response to the closure been?

A crowd-sourcing campaign launched by Reproductive Justice New Brunswick had raised more than $112,000 by Friday morning, in an effort to lease the existing Morgentaler Clinic. The group says it's in discussions with the building's owners to enter into a lease agreement. The campaign had set a $100,000 fundraising goal and a July 31 deadline.
New Brunswick's current Conservative government, as well as its former Liberal government, have both resisted calls to repeal the restrictive abortion legislation -- Regulation 84-20 -- that critics say infringes upon women's reproductive rights.
Health Minister Hugh Flemming said in a statement that women will still have access to abortions that are medically necessary and approved by two physicians.


Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/morgentaler-clinic-closure-what-impact-on-abortion-access-1.1920128#ixzz37wYS15Ro

[1054]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.  It's good to know what's happening with the northern neighbors. 

[CatherineM]

The saddest thing about Morgentaler is that he was a Holocaust survivor. He was at the Lodz Ghetto and Dachau. He was one of the first doctors in Canada to perform vasectomies. How could he sterilize people just as the Nazi's had? How could he kill infants in the womb, I'm assuming some must have been Jewish?

That stuff about making it about women's health is horse manure. He lost his medical license because he'd gotten caught re-using disposable vacurettes. The stuff about it not being about money is also carp. He also got caught dodging taxes. Most of his law suits weren't about making abortion legal, but about getting public funding for it.

[Perigrina]

The saddest thing about Morgentaler is that he was a Holocaust survivor. He was at the Lodz Ghetto and Dachau. He was one of the first doctors in Canada to perform vasectomies. How could he sterilize people just as the Nazi's had? How could he kill infants in the womb, I'm assuming some must have been Jewish?

That stuff about making it about women's health is horse manure. He lost his medical license because he'd gotten caught re-using disposable vacurettes. The stuff about it not being about money is also carp. He also got caught dodging taxes. Most of his law suits weren't about making abortion legal, but about getting public funding for it.

 

It is disturbing that this man is treated like a hero.  He was awarded the Order of Canada.

[CatherineM]

It is disturbing that this man is treated like a hero. He was awarded the Order of Canada.

I agree. He's the only convicted felon to receive it. Some have become felons later, but not before. Lots of people wanted my husband to return his Order of Canada, when they gave it to Morgentaler. He felt like when he received it that he was accepting it for all those with mental illnesses who have no voice, so he couldn't give it back. It was too important for him to keep the soap box the Order gives him.

[Perigrina]

A lot of Catholics gave back their Order of Canada when Morgentaler was given one.  They felt that the award was no longer meaningful.