According to Politicoa majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices are reportedly poised to overturn the ruling Roe v. wadewhich had legalized abortion since 1973. This news sent shockwaves across North America, particularly in Alberta, where the opposition New Democrats and several activist groups fear a rollback of the right to abortion as a result.
” These basic human rights can never be taken for granted. We must always fight for equality. »
Banning abortion is a form of discrimination against women and their right to choose what happens to their bodies
continues Rachel Notley.
She challenged Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, urging him to condemn this attack on reproductive rights in North America.
The Leader of the Opposition asks about a potential decision by a foreign court in another country. This is a question for the American legal and political system. There have been no changes to this procedure in Alberta and none have been proposed
replied Jason Kenney.
His government rejected a motion for an emergency debate on abortion rights.
A few moments earlier, the Minister associated with the Status of Women repeated the same message as the Prime Minister. Whitney Issik acknowledges, however, that access to abortion is more difficult in rural Alberta. The only three health facilities that offer abortion in the province are located in Calgary and Edmonton. This is one of the lowest rates of sites providing abortion per capita in the country, according to the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada.
Since 2017, Alberta has reimbursed the drug Mifegymiso, which allows abortion in the first seven weeks of pregnancy. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, there were 74,000 surgical abortions in 2020 in Canada, including about 12,000 in Alberta. Medical abortions are not counted however.
” We know that women sometimes have to travel, but services are widely available in this province. »
The associate minister describes herself as pro-choice. A few members of the United Conservative Party describe themselves as pro-life, or against abortion. Premier Jason Kenney, who came out against abortion earlier in his career as a federal cabinet minister, claimed a few years ago that his views had evolved and promised his provincial government would not engage in the debate. on access to abortion.
For their part, all New Democrat MPs came out in favor of the right to abortion. Chief Rachel Notley pledges, if elected Premier next year, to protect the right to abortion and to analyze with Alberta Health Services how to expand access to this right, particularly in rural areas.
the NDP also lobbied the United Conservative Government on Tuesday to amend its Paid Parental Bereavement Leave Bill to specifically list abortion as a cause for leave, alongside miscarriage and a stillborn child.
The minister responsible for the bill, Kaycee Madu, said an amendment to the bill will be made, but did not give further details.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca