'More than a shame, it's injustice': Winnipeg clinic speaks out against Roe v. Wade decision
Organizers of a clinic in Winnipeg say they feel rage and fear after hearing of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision that will allow states to ban abortions.
On Friday the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending the country's constitutional protections for abortion.
"The U.S. Supreme Court has officially declared war on women’s bodily autonomy. This is pushing back progress on equal rights by half a century," a release from the Women's Health Clinic in Winnipeg reads. "We feel rage, fear, and an unwavering commitment to making sure this does not happen in Canada.
"This is more than a shame, it’s injustice."
University of Manitoba professor and bioethicist Arthur Schafer said abortion is federally protected in Canada – adding this is between the patient and their doctor.
''Abortion hasn't really been a controversial issue in Canada for the last 30 or 40 years," Schafer said.
But as tensions rise in the U.S., Schafer said Canadians are speaking up too.
''Canadian women, in particular, are even more vigilant in protecting the right."
In Winnipeg, Women's Health Clinic Executive Director Kemlin Nembhard said her phone has been ringing as people take in the news of the Roe v. Wade overturning.
"Ultimately what we need to talk about is abortion care is health care and that is final," Nembhard said.
The clinic said it will provide abortions to anybody who may need one. However the clinic said many seeking abortions don't have the ability to travel.
"The difference between legal and illegal abortion comes down to a question of class, access, and safety," the clinic said, adding the ability to travel for abortion care requires the privilege to afford time off work, travel expenses and a place to recover.
"The abortions will not stop. Access to safe abortions in the U.S. has been decimated," Keesha Daniels, the Health Services Manager at the clinic, said in the release. "People will suffer and die from illegal abortions. When people with uteruses suffer, all of humanity suffers.”
Leah Gazan, the MP for Winnipeg Centre, in response to the Roe v. Wade decision, said even in Canada many people do not have access to reproductive health services.
"We know there are places in Canada where there is absolutely no access to reproductive health services," Gazan said, adding she is pushing for more federal support. ''They have had a number of years to ensure that people can access this right and they have failed."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE AT 2:30 MT Evacuation order issued for some Fort McMurray neighbourhoods as wildfire nears
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
BREAKING Toronto's top doctor Eileen de Villa announces resignation
Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health is stepping down.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
BREAKING Sask. man faces 60 charges in child exploitation investigation, with crimes dating back to 2005
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
American sought after 'So I raped you' Facebook message detained in France on 2021 warrant
An American accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, 'So I raped you,' has been detained in France after a three-year search.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
1 killed, 3 injured in head-on crash on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.