News that the US Supreme Court may overturn the Roe v. Wade Act that legalized abortion has caused some in Saskatchewan to raise the issue of the accessibility of abortions in the province.
An initial leaked draft majority opinion suggests the court voted to overturn Roe v. wade, reported politician Monday. The Supreme Court of the United States has confirmed that the draft is authentic.
“Roe was terribly wrong from the start,” conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the draft opinion, which is dated February 10 and published in its entirety by Politico. here.
Based on Alito’s opinion, the court would find that the Roe v. Wade that allowed abortions to be performed before the fetus was viable outside the womb (between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy) was decided incorrectly because the US Constitution makes no specific mention of abortion rights.
“Abortion presents a profound moral issue. The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each state from regulating or prohibiting abortion,” Alito wrote in the leaked document.
Heather Hale, executive director of Saskatoon Sexual Health (SSH), said she and her colleagues have seen the anti-abortion conversation intensify in the US over the past three years.
“So while it’s distressing, it’s not surprising,” Hale said of the pending ruling. “It is unfortunate to see that this is still the conversation and that it is undemocratic and based on misinformation or disinformation.”
Hale said the situation in Canada is different, but activism against gender equality doesn’t just happen in the US.
“The anti-choice activism that has been undermining decades of progress on gender equality and women’s rights around the world is not confined to a single jurisdiction,” she said. “It’s something we have to watch out for.”
Meanwhile, Alissa Golob, executive director and co-founder of the anti-abortion organization Right Now, said she is pleased that Roe v. Wade is annulled.
“It’s been a long time coming. It’s been hard work on the part of the American pro-life movement or Americans in general to elect presidents who will appoint judges who will protect the human rights of the unborn and the rights of women as well.” Golob said.
“Any time there’s a pro-life victory anywhere in the world, I’m definitely going to be celebrating.”
Golob said that in Saskatchewan, those who wish to see a similar outcome should make their wishes known to their governments.
“I think public policy needs to reflect public opinion. And if the majority of Saskatchewans want legislation that protects the unborn and helps women get through crisis pregnancies, that’s where policy should go.”
Barriers to abortion access
Hale said the province has issues with abortion accessibility. She said it’s a common medical procedure that should be available to anyone who needs it.
“Information on how to obtain this very common medical procedure remains shrouded in secrecy and shame in Saskatchewan,” Hale said.
“We know that persistent barriers continue to inhabit the accessibility, availability, affordability and quality of abortion services in Saskatchewan.”
Surgical abortions are only available in Saskatoon and Regina.
“Certainly, we know of people who traveled up to nine hours to Regina to access services.”
Hale said the problem was exacerbated by the dissolution of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company.
“So people who live outside of Saskatoon or Regina should have access to a vehicle. And also because that trip isn’t covered by insurance, [they] they also have to make hotel and food arrangements to access the services.”
She said that some of the barriers that currently exist are timeline issues. Medical abortions are available up to nine weeks of pregnancy throughout the province. After nine weeks of pregnancy, a surgical abortion is required.
However, Saskatoon has a shorter time frame in which a person can obtain a surgical abortion. Surgical abortions are performed in Saskatoon up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, while in Regina they are up to 18 weeks and six days, according to Hale.
Meanwhile, in provinces like Alberta, BC, and Ontario, that term is longer. In BC, a surgical abortion can be provided up to 24 weeks.
Another barrier is referrals. In Saskatoon, a person needs a referral from a doctor to access a surgical abortion, while in Regina a person can call and self-refer.
The opposition calls Sask. Party to expand services
On Tuesday, the NDP opposition called on the Saskatchewan Party government to expand access to abortion services.
“We’re close to the worst in the country. Reproductive services in general are very difficult to access in Saskatchewan. And abortion services in particular are very limited in this province,” Deputy Leader of the Opposition Nicole Sauauer said at the legislative building. in queen
“[The Sask. Party] will do nothing to promote or expand access to reproductive services for women in Saskatchewan unless absolutely forced to do so. And it’s very disappointing.”
The Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Laura Ross, responded to the PND’s questioning.
“Our government follows the law. The law states that women have the right to access reproductive health services in Saskatchewan and in Canada,” Ross said. “US Supreme Court ruling has no impact on women’s rights in Canada.”
Asked by reporters, Ross said there are no barriers to abortion access in the province.
Reference-www.cbc.ca