Alberta government leaders say they have no plans to change access to abortions in the province following an expired and potentially landmark decision by the US Supreme Court.
“There has been no policy change regarding this procedure and it has not been proposed,” Prime Minister Jason Kenny said during a question period in the legislature on Tuesday.
But when questioned by opposition leader Rachel Notley, Kenny stopped pledging that the United Conservative Party government would one day reduce access to abortion in the province.
“The member is trying to create controversy where there is none in Alberta,” Kenny said.
On their way to the legislature on Tuesday, Health Minister Jason Kopping and Associate Minister for Women’s Status Whitney Issick reiterated that the UCP government has no plans to change access to abortion. They also made no commitment to improve access to the service.
Isik, who described herself as a pro-choice, acknowledged that people living in rural and remote areas should travel to urban abortion centers.
“We will continue to provide services to women on all issues related to women’s health,” she said.
The tide follows Monday’s news of an expired draft ruling by the US Supreme Court, in which a majority of judges say they are ready to overturn a remarkable 1973 ruling legalizing abortion in the country.
Earlier Tuesday afternoon, Notley and other NDP women gathered on a staircase in front of the legislature for a press conference. Notley called it a “dark, dark day” for women’s rights and equality and asked the Alberta government to publicly declare its support for women’s reproductive rights.
“I know a lot of people in Albert are worried about this news and what it will mean for the people of this province,” she said.
Alberta Health Services lists abortions as available in Edmonton and Calgary. The NDP MLA and former Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said some doctors may have abortions elsewhere but did not advertise it for fear of harassment or assault.
Cabinet ministers downplayed the consequences of a potential decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Canada, saying a foreign court ruling had nothing to do with Canadian law.
Last year, the political association Pro-Life Alberta raised funds for all political parties in the province, with the exception of the NDP and the UCP. The Anti-Abortion Party wants to make abortion an election issue.
Amendment to authorize maternity leave
The opposition also reiterated calls for changes to the government’s bill to guarantee workers unpaid unpaid leave of up to three days for miscarriage or stillbirth.
Bill 17 will amend labor legislation to extend the leave granted to workers dealing with the death of a family member.
Advocates who help people who have experienced pregnancy loss want the definition to be expanded to include workers who have had an abortion or terminate a pregnancy for medical reasons.
During the question period, Labor and Immigration Minister Casey Madu said an amendment to the bill was forthcoming, but gave no details.
Earlier, Madu told reporters that there was nothing in the bill that required an employee to tell his employer how he had lost a baby.
“If there is anything that needs to change in this particular bill that the different types of pregnancy loss will be covered in the bill, I am open to that,” Madu said.
Abortions are legal procedures in Canada and are covered by Alberta’s public health insurance plan.
The Canadian Institute of Health Information reports that in 2020, there were more than 74,000 surgical abortions in Canada, nearly 12,000 of which occurred in Alberta. The numbers have been declining since about 2013.
In 2017, the then NDP government in Alberta chose to cover the cost of Mifegymiso, an abortion pill that was approved for use in Canada during the first seven weeks of pregnancy. Many medical abortions are not reported in national statistics.
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