TK Pritchard expects to receive a flood of emails in the coming days about what the U.S. election results mean for the future of abortion access across Canada.
Following Donald Trump’s re-election as president, Quebec politicians and some groups protecting women’s right to abortion in Canada say they are wary of the future of women’s right to choose north of the border. Ta.
“How can we make sure Canadians have access? What does this mean for our care?” said Pritchard, executive director of the National Abortion Federation of Canada. .
“There are very real implications and concerns.”
On Wednesday, Quebec Solidaire, the second opposition party in Quebec’s parliament, introduced a motion reiterating Quebec’s consensus in support of abortion rights and calling on all federal parties to support women’s rights, including the right to abortion. We asked them to commit to actively protecting the United States. It was passed unanimously.
“This morning is a rude awakening. The United States will be ruled by a man who campaigned against women’s right to abortion,” said Ruba Ghazal, Quebec Solidaire MNA and critic of the status of women. said in an emailed release.
Quebecers are “not immune” from the “rise of authoritarian politics,” said party leader Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
The US presidential election was decisive, but even here in Quebec, reactions to President Trump’s victory are divided.
“I think a lot of Quebecers are troubled by yesterday’s results, even though of course we recognize and respect them,” Nadeau-Dubois said.
“Quebec is not an island. … We are influenced by what is happening around us. In Quebec and Canada, we are seeing the rise of a new generation of discourse that opposes a woman’s right to choose.”
The right to choose was settled in Quebec, Legault says.
Martine Biron, Quebec’s minister responsible for the status of women, said the situation in Quebec is not the same as in the United States.
And Premier François Legault said the right to choose is something Avenir Québec will “never look back on.”
“It’s alarming to see what’s happening in the United States…To me, it’s a problem that has been solved in Quebec for a long time,” Legault said.
Jess Legault, Coordinator Quebec Planning Federationshe says it’s okay to be disappointed that day. But then she “rallies”.
“There is knowledge that the extremely misogynistic and racist positions that are prevalent in discourse in the United States tend to influence political and social discourse here in Canada and Quebec,” she said. Ta.
Canada’s abortion care ‘pretty weak’: advocate
Pritchard said the situation in the United States could “fuel” anti-choice movements in Canada.
They believe these election results could further fuel the debate about how to strengthen the right to abortion care across Canada.
Trump has previously The proposal for a nationwide abortion ban was not proposed.he said during his campaign that abortion laws should be decided by the states and left important questions about abortion unanswered. Roe v. Wade will be overturned in 2022.
“We are deeply affected politically and socially by what is happening in the United States,” Pritchard said.
In Canada, abortion is protected by Supreme Court decisions and the Canada Health Act. Pritchard said what’s happening in the United States is an example of why the majority of abortion supporters in Canada don’t want laws governing or protecting abortion in Canada.
“It would actually open up more legal and political attacks. It would also take health care out of medical regulation and into the legal and political realm for no real reason.” Richard said.
“Technically, it requires the same access and protection as other forms of care.”
But Pritchard pointed to existing barriers to abortion in Canada, saying their organizations may have to send patients to the U.S. because some provinces lack clinics and other resources. said.
“Canada’s abortion care system is actually very weak and dependent on key individuals and communities providing abortions,” they said, adding that gaps can arise when doctors become ill or go on vacation. He said there is.
“There’s always concern about people crossing borders. What does that mean in a country that doesn’t support abortion?”
