WHEREAS access to reproductive health services, including legal abortion, is guaranteed under the Canada Health Act;
WHEREAS complete access to reproductive health services saves women’s lives and protects their health, thereby making these services an integral part of women’s overall health care;
WHEREAS many publicly funded health institutions refuse to perform abortions and other reproductive health procedures and may offer women misleading information as to the availability of such services in other health institutions;
WHEREAS in certain areas of the country women’s access to reproductive health services is limited, being eroded or non-existent, in direct opposition to the guarantees of the Canada Health Act, forcing women to travel long distances at their own expense to obtain these services;
WHEREAS many provinces list abortion on their “excluded services list” for reciprocal billing under Medicare, which means that an abortion obtained outside a woman’s home province may not be covered, even if no provider exists in the area in which she resides;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada urge the Government of Canada to enforce the provisions of the Canada Health Act to guarantee women’s access to timely and effective reproductive health services, including reciprocal billing for out-of-province services;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Government of Canada financially penalize provinces that fail to abide by the provisions of the Canada Health Act with respect to i) ensuring complete access to these services, and/or ii) covering costs related to their provision.
National Women’s Liberal Commission
This is 2011, Why the silence on this issue? I wonder what the response would be if the subject was, “no more health care funding for people over 90.” Both ridiculous.
the problem with abortion and womans reproductive rights is that the conservative government and many bueraucrats run this country using religion as there guide instead of using common sense.even at that they misinterpert their religion to satisfy there own personal beliefs.we need to separate religion and the state.a woman must have the full rights to self determination as well as a man(vasectomy).if a girl is raped she should not be forced to carry and care for that child as it would bring back that memory for the rest of her life.and we all know that even religious people do these terrible things(rape,sexual abuse).a fetus is no more alive than a brain dead adult who is kept alive only with mechanical assistance,once you remove the support it dies (the mother or the equipment).
I am in no uncertain terms opposed to abortion, because its an extreme act of violence, not by the women this operation is being performed on, but by the perpetrators who are performing it and such a thing should have no place in a mentally and emotionally well society. However, for this same reason, I’m also convinced that women must have the right to choose.
Any responses, questions or requests to my position are greatly welcome.
Quite possibly the most sensible position on abortion I’ve ever seen. I applaud you for it.
I vote yes. I am in no uncertain terms supportive of women’s right to control their own reproduction. At home and abroad.
Come on , stop the fear mongering..birth is natural part of life
and support for abortion is just a selfish act for those who want a re-wind
on their mistakes and have everyone else pay for it.
Re-spon-sib-il-ity….learn that word and use it!!!!!
Hmm. Well, would you also say to the smoker that he/she can’t get treatment for resultant lung problems because he/she should have been “Responsible” and not smoked? What about the obese? What about the physically unfit? What about addicts? What about…you fill in the blanks.
I think we MUST provide good health care for all. That includes providing women with the right to choose and to have good access to an abortion if that is the choice.
The fact that this is an issue at all is embarrassing. It’s absolutely obvious and self-evident that women should have access to these services. It’s 2011, let’s act like it.
As the Canadian Liberal Party, we must act as a bulwark defending the liberty of our citizens’ authority over their own bodies, especially when that liberty is threatened under the authority of steadily encroaching legislation.
The proponents of this legislation claim to be pro-life, but their hypocrisy rings clear when their pro-life sentiment ends when the baby is born. Surprisingly (or not so), they are also the most fervent advocates for dismantlement of our health care and social security systems – designed to maintain, protect and raise basic living standards for those that would be unable to do so on their own. If this hypocrisy keeps up and subsequent legislation passes, a potential pregnant woman denied an abortion without resources to support her baby could potentially turn to crime or putting their child in a foster home, further straining the Canadian social safety net and giving the mother emotional baggage that might act in detriment to her mental health. In order to protect the most vulnerable and powerless in our society, and protect our Constitutional freedoms, we must relentlessly call out the hypocrisy wherever it presents itself.
Furthermore, we must introduce a comprehensive family planning programme to our schools. We need to make the lessons engaging and applicable to the real world. Important decisions such as having children must remain under the ultimate control of the parents. We have a duty to stress the importance of being able to provide and care for potential dependents, before you have them.
If we can effectively reach out to our youth with the idea that having children is a big responsibility that takes resources & personal sacrifices, we can guide them to act accordingly and allow the growth of more happy and healthy families. As a side effect, I believe this has the potential to reduce crime – as less families will be strained to provide for their unplanned dependents and forced to do things they would otherwise not do, out of desperation.
The Government of Canada is obliged to enforce the provisions of
the Canada Health Act so a resolution stating that fact is redundant.
Unfortunately the debate between ‘pro life’ and ‘choice’ advocates
is illogical because one side ‘chooses’ to define beings in the womb
as non human and with no rights right up to birth. There can be no agreement until we at least agree that there are conflicting rights
involved. Although it is not actually a ‘pro’ resolution it will be seen as such. I think this resolution should be reconsidered.
I wonder if Harper respects the CHA. Passed
Excellent
Thank you Dave for noting when these resolutions have been passed ( just a suggestion – it would be worthwhile to note the percentage it was approved by)
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