Liberal minister of families, children and social development Karina Gould has said that women visiting from the United States would be able to obtain abortions in Canada if the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
In a leaked draft obtained by Politico and confirmed by US Chief Justice John Roberts, US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has written a draft majority opinion that would overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that established a woman’s right to an abortion in the US.
In an interview with the CBC, Gould was asked if American women would be able to abort their children in Canada despite US state laws restricting the practice.
“I don’t see why we would not,” she said. “If they – people – come here and need access, certainly, you know, that’s a service that would be provided.”
Americans are already able to access Canada’s abortion services if they are covered under Canada’s health insurance programs – or by paying for private insurance or out-of-pocket.
Public safety minister Marco Mendicino alerted border patrol agents that Americans coming to Canada to have an abortion are welcome to undergo the procedure in Canada.
“I’ve engaged CBSA, my office is currently working with them to make sure there are clear guidelines so that women who may not be able to access healthcare including abortions are able to come to Canada,” he said.
If the case currently being heard before the US Supreme Court ends up overturning Roe v. Wade, 23 states have so-called ‘trigger laws’ that would enforce abortion restrictions upon Roe v. Wade’s reversal.
Abortion laws in Canada were struck down in 1988 after the R v. Morgentaler case. Canada has had no federal abortion laws since, despite attempts from the Brian Mulroney government to pass legislation in the late 1980s.
The Trudeau government has reaffirmed its support for abortion rights, asserting that the feds will protect women’s access to the procedure and will prevent a future government from passing legislation restricting abortions.
“The right to choose is a woman’s right and a woman’s right alone,” Trudeau said. “Every woman in Canada has a right to a safe and legal abortion. We’ll never back down from protecting and promoting women’s rights in Canada and around the world.”
In 2022, the Trudeau government withheld $140,000 in transfer funds from New Brunswick for not providing enough access to abortion within the province.
In a leaked email, interim Conservative Party leader Candice Bergen told her caucus not to discuss Justice Alito’s draft opinion and asserted that the only ones bringing the abortion debate back up are the Liberals.
In the past, individual Conservative MPs have brought forth private members’ bills in efforts to create some restrictions around abortion, with the latest effort a June 2021 vote that garnered 81 votes and ultimately failed.
Conservative leadership candidates Scott Aitchison and Pierre Poilievre voted against the bill, with Leslyn Lewis voting for it.
