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Columnist Rob Breakenridge could not be more wrong in his recent column. He relies on a stale cliche, that abortion rights are a “settled issue,” and that Kenney has preserved the “status quo.”
The status quo isn’t good enough. Access to abortion in Alberta before 2015 was extremely poor, and my government worked hard to change that. We passed legislation to prevent harassment outside abortion clinics. We provided full public coverage for the abortion pill, a critical step towards access in rural Alberta. We were also working to provide clinical abortion services outside of major cities. The Kenney government halted this work.
We have a long way to go, but Kenney refuses to move.
We don’t need to recite Jason Kenney’s life-long hostility to women’s rights.
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Upholding the right to abortion is more than landmark court decisions. It takes work every day by health providers, community organizations, and elected representatives to ensure that rights translate into accessible services. Only the NDP can be trusted to advance women’s health care.
Many Albertans have taken access to abortion for granted. Perhaps Breakenridge is one of them. But those who would roll back the clock on women’s rights have never rested. The news coming out of the US will embolden these groups in Canada.
Albertans deserve a government that strengthens public health care and expands access in every community. I commit that an NDP government will take up this work every single day.
NDP Leader Rachel Notley, Edmonton
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Dearth of U of Alumni in cabinet telling
In Sarah Carter’s May 10 opinion piece about the U of A’s Ring Houses, I was startled to read that “there are no graduates of the U of A in Jason Kenney’s cabinet.” If true, what does this tell us about the education and perspectives of our current government leadership?
Trevor Theman, Edmonton
Northlands site could accommodate homeless
I don’t go downtown unless absolutely necessary. The downtown does not belong to all Edmontonians anymore; rather, it is owned by the homeless, the drug addicts, alcoholics, and those just down and out. Not only do they own it, they have the blessing of the media.
I feel very sorry for anyone who has a business in this area. I think the homeless should be moved, and all support agencies, to another area. Perhaps the city-owned property at Northlands. I am all in favor of affordable housing, counselling, medical support and whatever is needed to help those who want help or can be helped. Don’t be surprised if many of them don’t want help. Just looking the other way doesn’t help them or anybody else.
Jerome Hendrick, Edmonton
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