Canadians can access abortion services, though like most healthcare, getting an abortion is a lot easier if you live in a large Canadian city. The United States, even before the leak of a decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, has been a place where getting an abortion was extremely difficult unless you lived in a large urban setting.
Canadians don't have the draconian laws of their southern neighbours.
Karina Gould, Canada's minister of families, affirmed that Americans can access abortion services in Canada. “If they, people, come here and need access, certainly, you know, that’s a service that would be provided,” Gould told CBC News.
This may be notable in states such as Michigan that border Ontario.
Matt Galloway talked about abortion in a recent segment on The Current on CBC Radio One. The emphasis was mostly on Saskatchewan, pointing out that access was easier in Regina than even Saskatoon.
Canada is a safer place for abortion though access should be improved
Prince Edward Island eases abortion restrictions (2015)
Abortion definitely an issue in New Brunswick election (2014)
The Trudeau Government had recent announcements on already assigned funding: more than $3.5 million in funding for 2 initiatives to improve access to abortion services and reproductive health information.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Action Canada would get $2.1 million over 3 years to improve information and referral services. The funding will also cover travel and accommodation costs for people seeking abortions.
The National Abortion Federation Canada will get $1.4 million over 3 years to help train health care providers to perform abortions and ensure facilities have the capacity to provide the service.
The U.S. helped out Canada on the abortion front in the late 1980s before a key decision from the Canadian Supreme Court.
The CBC News report noted the passport concern for Americans traveling to Canada for an abortion. Americans also need to register via the ArriveCAN app and be vaccinated to come to Canada, ideally in a land crossing.
CanadianCrossing.com health care coverage
Canada was a destination for same-gender marriages while the United States did this on a piece meal basis. The dreams of marijuana tourism have been thwarted by a delay on edibles and the pandemic. Plus, if you are an American wanting to do marijuana tourism, a flight to California has better weather at the destination and may be cheaper, depending on location.
Abortion tourism won't be marketed but might be a small slice of desperately need tourism money for Canada. As much as any kind of tourism would be helpful, abortion is the type of procedure where you want to be in your own bed after the procedure.
Home is an option for drugs that induce a miscarriage. That can make the process easier on women in Canada, the United States, and around the world.
There are groups of people who will particularly struggle with this not so distant future: poor women; women of colour, especially Indigenous women; and young women.
Women should have the full and complete right to decide when and how they get pregnant and how they deal with the situation should they become pregnant. Full stop.
photo credit: Full Frontal with Samantha Bee/TBS
video credit: CBC News
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