Sample letter to ask organizations to stop supporting unregulated pregnancy centres

Below is a generic letter you can send to send to any organization, company, local government, or other entity that provides funds to an anti-choice unregulated pregnancy centre (UPC), such as via a grant, fundraiser, sponsorship etc.

You could also adapt the letter for an entity that bestows recognition on a UPC, such as with an award or favourable publicity.

Simply copy and paste the letter into the body of an email and fill in the blanks with the specific information. You can customize the letter as needed for the situation.

(Note: ARCC is now calling “crisis pregnancy centres” unregulated pregnancy centres” to be more accurate.)

Please do not fund anti-abortion pregnancy centres

Dear ___________,

I’m writing to ask you to please stop funding the ________________________. This centre is one of over 150 anti-abortion pregnancy care centres in Canada that misinform and try to dissuade pregnant people from having abortions.

These unregulated pregnancy centres (UPCs) are often called “crisis pregnancy centres” or CPCs. They are not medical facilities and their “counsellors” are volunteers who have no recognized training in counselling.

A 2023 study showed that a large majority of UPCs in Canada spread misleading or inaccurate information about abortion and sexual health on their websites, and/or present themselves deceptively. For example, UPCs may claim to offer help to everyone regardless of religion, background, or gender identity, but in fact they do not provide culturally-informed or gender-affirming care.

Unsuspecting clients who go to UPCs often hear inflammatory language that is designed to horrify them if they are considering abortion. In addition to wrong or exaggerated information on the risks of abortion, UPCs may also counsel against contraception, falsely claiming that some birth control methods are abortifacients. Further, many UPCs offer biased “post-abortion support” programs that use a religious model of guilt, forgiveness, and redemption. Indeed, most UPCs are Christian ministries that are often not upfront about their religious beliefs against abortion.

Given the harms that UPCs can cause to their clients and the community, it is highly inappropriate for you to fund or give any public recognition to this centre. I urge you to please stop funding them.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your name and contact info]