P.E.I. abortion decision fuels access concerns in New Brunswick

Reproductive rights advocates in New Brunswick are calling on the provincial government to make it easier for women to access abortions, after Prince Edward Island announced the service will be provided on the Island for the first time in decades.

New Brunswick offers abortion services at three hospitals – two in Moncton and the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst. 

"It makes a huge statement to New Brunswick that they have to step it up and they have to provide all the services that we deserve and not what's just politically convenient," said Hannah Gray, spokesperson for Reproduce Justice New Brunswick.

• Abortion services coming to P.E.I., province announces

Women in New Brunswick used to have to get the approval of two doctors before having an abortion. But the provincial government scrapped the regulation, effective in January 2015.

Advocates say the biggest obstacle for women in New Brunswick now is that abortions are only provided at a limited number of hospitals. They argue clinic-based abortions are not only safer but less expensive. 

"Right now [abortion access] is contingent on whether you can afford to travel ... to the places the Gallant government thinks are convenient to put abortion services," said Gray.

P.E.I. will continue to fund abortions for women travelling to have the procedure in Moncton. 

The P.E.I. government is also asking Health PEI to begin planning a new women's reproductive health centre that will be located in a hospital and provide medical and surgical abortions.

Gov't examines abortion access

New Brunswick Health Minister Victor Boudreau says the government is assessing abortion services in the province.

"We are monitoring the current program to see if more access is required," said Boudreau in a statement to CBC News.

"We are gathering data in order to make an evidence-based decision on this matter."

Beth Lyons, the executive director of the independent public group Voices of New Brunswick Women, applauds the government for improving abortion access, but says more action is needed immediately.

"We could see [Clinic 554] funded publicly, said Lyons.

Clinic 554 opened at the location of the former Morgentaler clinic in Fredericton last year. 

It's the only private clinic that offers abortions in the province.

By not funding the clinic it creates "a climate of shame and a climate of stigma," said Jula Hughes, associate professor at the University of New Brunswick's Faculty of Law.

Charter challenge in N.B.?

Gray says Reproductive Justice New Brunswick has tried to get thorough to the government by protesting and holding meetings, but the P.E.I. decision makes it clear litigation works.

Premier Wade MacLauchlan said the P.E.I. government decided to make abortions available on the Island after it became clear it would not be able to defend itself against a lawsuit brought forward by abortion access advocates to provide full and unrestricted access to the procedure.

Gray says the group isn't ruling out a lawsuit.

"We want to do everything possible to avoid that," said Gray.

"But if we have to, it's what we have to do."

Hughes says there are grounds for a challenge under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to provide adequate abortion access in New Brunswick.

"The same arguments in the P.E.I. lawsuit can be made here," said Hughes.