The Trudeau government is ready to supply Americans with Mifepristone, the abortion pill, if the United States bans it in a Supreme Court decision expected Friday night.
“We have to be vigilant about protecting our reproductive rights,” said Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould in an interview with CTV News Power Play host Vassy Kapelos. “We have certainly said that we would work to provide that for American women should that happen in the United States.”
“We remain very committed to making sure that we can support American women if they need that access here.”
Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk issued a rule to invalidate the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the abortion pill, which could result in the drug being taken off shelves in all U.S. States.
Kacsmaryk stated that his decision to reject the FDA’s approval of the drug is due to a lack of review of the psychological consequences of the drug on the user.
While a decision was initially supposed to be released Wednesday, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito issued an order giving the court more time to consider.
After Kacsmaryk’s ruling on April 7, the pill remains available but with limitations. The drug cannot be mailed and patients who seek it must make three in-person visits with a doctor.
When the Supreme Court of The United States overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Gould said Americans wishing to access an abortion in Canada would be able to.
“I don’t see why we would not,” Gould told CBC News in May of last year. “If they, people, come here and need access, certainly, you know, that’s a service that would be provided.”
Mifepristone, which is the equivalent of Health Canada-approved Mifegymiso is linked to dozens of deaths including a 19-year-old Canadian last year, a 23-year-old Argentinian in 2021 and 28 women in the United States.
