‘This is not ancient history:’ U.S. abortion decision a red flag for P.E.I. MLA

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — For one P.E.I. MLA, the USA’ determination to remove abortion rights must be a reminder for Canadians, particularly Islanders, to stay vigilant.

On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 determination that mentioned the American structure protects a pregnant particular person’s proper to decide on to have an abortion.

The choice confirmed a leak that hit the information earlier this yr and triggered a number of states to right away outlaw abortion procedures.

Charlottetown-Parkdale MLA Hannah Bell mentioned that whereas Canada has a really totally different political system, equitable entry to medical care ought to by no means be taken with no consideration. She spoke to SaltWire Community throughout a break in committee conferences on June 29.

“Probably the most essential issues concerning the debate round abortion is that there isn’t a debate round abortion. Abortion is well being care,” mentioned Bell. “And it’s a well being care determination the identical manner that coronary heart surgical procedure is well being care.”

The information popping out of the USA is horrific. My coronary heart goes out to the thousands and thousands of American ladies who at the moment are set to lose their authorized proper to an abortion. I can’t think about the worry and anger you’re feeling proper now.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 24, 2022

Constitution challenged

P.E.I. solely just lately obtained entry to abortion providers in 2017 after they had been stopped in 1982 when the Protestant and Catholic health-care programs merged and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital opened in Charlottetown.

As a situation of the merger, the Catholic church demanded that abortion providers discontinue, mentioned a 2019 article in Chatelaine magazine by Emily Baron Cadloff.

The final process was carried out that yr on the secular Prince County Hospital.

“We can’t afford to be complacent.” — Charlottetown-Parkdale MLA Hannah Bell

For greater than 30 years, the ban remained in place. Within the Nineteen Nineties, P.E.I. started to refer ladies to off-Island providers if the process was medically needed and accepted by two docs.

The ban was solely lifted after a courtroom problem materialized in January 2016. Abortion Entry Now P.E.I. suggested the deputy legal professional normal that they meant to file a discover of software within the Supreme Courtroom of Prince Edward Island in opposition to the minister of well being and wellness on the authorities of P.E.I.

In March 2016, then-premier Wade MacLauchlan introduced the province would start to supply the service and in 2017, the primary surgical procedure since 1982 was carried out.

“This isn’t historic historical past,” mentioned Bell. “It solely modified as a result of there was an enormous and concerted effort.”

From January 2017 to the top of December 2021, the Ladies’s Wellness Program has offered 607 surgical abortions and 443 medical abortions, mentioned Well being P.E.I.

Good to know

The Women’s Wellness Program offers health care at several locations in P.E.I.

Listed below are a number of the reproductive well being providers it gives:

• Preliminary fertility evaluation for {couples} and not using a main care supplier.
• Prenatal care for people and not using a main care supplier.
• Menopause counselling and care for people and not using a main care supplier.
• Maternal (perinatal and postpartum) psychological well being providers.
• Being pregnant loss counselling.
• Pap/pelvic exams.
• Contraception counselling and prescriptions.
• Being pregnant counselling, testing and assist.
• Abortion providers (medical and surgical).
• Submit-abortion care

Comparable rhetoric

Bell mentioned that for years within the U.S. ladies had been instructed to relax as a result of “there’s nothing to fret about,” nevertheless, with Roe v. Wade now overturned leading to rights taken away from half the inhabitants, “that tells you nothing is secure.”

The fundamentalism that tipped the U.S. Supreme Courtroom to remove a constitutional proper 50 years on, is predicated on right-wing insurance policies, she mentioned.

Abortion is healthcare.
Entry to healthcare is a human proper.
Entry to abortion is a human proper.

— Hannah Bell (@hannahbethbell) June 24, 2022

“Happily, we’re not the States, however sadly, we’re seeing some related speaking factors and rhetoric in some political areas right here just like the convoy (protest round) mandates, and (by) a number of the conservative occasion leaders,” mentioned Bell.

Bell mentioned even with Canada’s variations, many individuals needed to combat onerous to get abortion rights ratified, with P.E.I. being a current instance.

“You can’t then sit again and say that it’s secure,” mentioned Bell. “We can’t afford to be complacent.”

Even now, many teams in Canada have unequal entry to well being care.

For instance, ladies are nonetheless experiencing compelled sterilizations and youngsters are nonetheless taken away from households at start, she mentioned.

“Rights don’t apply equally,” she mentioned. “So, ‘It couldn’t occur right here,’ is rubbish.”

Alison Jenkins is a well being reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. @AlisonEBC