Over 1,000 Canadians Sign Solidarity Statement Calling on Party Leaders to Pledge Action on Reproductive Healthcare

NATIONAL – With only a few days to go before the election, Canadians are calling on each party leader to affirm that the right to abortion is fundamental to the equality of women and transgender people, and to commit to action to expand access to reproductive healthcare for all.

Over 1,000 Canadian organizations and individuals have signed a “Solidarity Statement of Support for Abortion Rights.” The statement is included on page 2, and signatures can be viewed here:

Statement with List of Signatures: www.arcc-cdac.ca/election/solidarity-statement

“Abortion has been a top election issue during this campaign – but too often, candidates state only that they support the right to abortion, or that they won’t legislate on abortion or ‘re-open the debate’,” said Joyce Arthur, Executive Director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada.

“We demand more. Regardless of which party wins the election, the signatories expect the new government to enforce the Canada Health Act, implement universal coverage of contraception, and work with the provinces to improve access to reproductive healthcare, including both surgical abortion and the abortion pill Mifegymiso.”

Media Contacts:

To all federal Party leaders and candidates in the 2019 federal election

We, the undersigned, ask you to affirm our positions and needs, and to accomplish them if you are elected:

We recognize abortion as a fundamental human right. We know that equality cannot be achieved without control over one’s fertility.

We affirm that everyone is entitled to equal and non-discriminatory access to abortion and other sexual and reproductive healthcare, including women and men, youth, the LGBTQ2 community, and sex workers.

We know that restricting abortion violates the Charter rights of pregnant persons as per the 1988 Supreme Court Morgentaler decision, which found that inability to access the service puts people’s lives and health at risk.

We oppose the introduction of any law or policy that could criminalize or negatively affect reproductive rights and access, including abortion.

We call upon the government of Canada to enforce the Canada Health Act by ensuring that all provinces and territories make abortion care fully accessible throughout their regions. In particular, we ask the government to require New Brunswick and Ontario to fully fund abortion in all facilities that provide them, including private clinics and practices.

We call for greater availability of the abortion pill Mifegymiso, and ask the government of Canada to support provinces to expand the number of prescribing family doctors, permit nurse practitioners and midwives to prescribe the drug, and facilitate the use of telemedicine so that patients do not have to travel outside their communities.

We call upon the government of Canada to continue its role as a global leader in funding sexual and reproductive healthcare in developing countries, including safe abortion.

We call for universal coverage of contraception, and support free contraceptive access for youths as recommended by the Canadian Pediatric Agency.

We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, pledge to defend the legal right to abortion, and to advocate for improved access to abortion and other sexual and reproductive healthcare.

Signature List: www.arcc-cdac.ca/election/solidarity-statement