An abortion-rights activist holds a box of mifepristone pills as demonstrators from both anti-abortion and abortion-rights groups rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Amanda Andrade-Rhoades
MONTREAL — The Quebec government is launching a new initiative aimed at improving access to abortion services in response to growing concerns about threats to women's rights globally.
Martine Biron, Quebec's minister for the status of women, unveiled the $7.5 million plan on Monday, stressing that it would serve as a safeguard against the erosion of reproductive rights, especially following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Biron emphasized that one in three Canadian women will have an abortion during their lifetime, and her goal is to protect their rights.
"I want to assure the women of Quebec that their rights will be protected," Biron told reporters during a press conference in Montreal. "Our government is committed to defending women's rights."
The plan comes amid widespread support for abortion rights in Quebec, where 90% of residents back a woman's right to choose. However, Biron noted that the decision to reverse Roe v. Wade has sparked increased activism from anti-abortion groups, both in Quebec and across Canada.
"The rights of women are fragile and must be continually protected," Biron said. The province's action plan seeks to address the challenge of accessing abortion services outside of Montreal, where some women face wait times of up to five weeks for a procedure.
The new measures include expanding access to abortion pills, with plans to introduce a telehealth service that would allow women, particularly those in rural areas, to access the medication more quickly. Biron aims for the service to be available by 2027.
Currently, medical abortions account for a smaller percentage of terminations in Quebec—17% in 2022—compared to 32% in Ontario, 53% in the U.S., and 72% in France. This is partly due to past restrictions on the use of abortion pills, which were only prescribed by doctors trained in surgical abortion. However, in 2022, Quebec lifted these restrictions, allowing nurse practitioners and midwives to prescribe abortion medications.
Despite the change, there is still limited awareness of medical abortions among the public. Louise Langevin, a law professor and reproductive rights expert at Université Laval, pointed out that many people in Quebec remain unfamiliar with the option.
In addition to expanding access to medical abortion, Biron also announced plans to open new clinics, including one in Quebec City. Jess Legault, a coordinator with a family planning federation in the province, welcomed the move, pointing out that the region currently has only one abortion clinic, leading to long wait times for women.
"This will be a great relief for women in the area, who currently face wait times of up to eight weeks for an abortion," Legault said.
The plan also includes measures to combat disinformation about abortion services. Legault noted that anti-abortion groups have become more vocal since the Roe v. Wade decision, citing the first-ever March for Life rally held in Quebec City in 2023.
However, Langevin believes anti-abortion movements will struggle to gain significant traction in Quebec. "They can protest all they want, but they have little influence here," she said.
Despite the positive reception of the new plan, both Legault and Langevin expressed disappointment that the government did not include a proposal to make contraception free. Biron explained that the government is still in discussions with the federal government over its pharmacare legislation, which includes universal access to contraception, but Quebec has indicated it will opt out of the national program.
Langevin, however, pointed to British Columbia's decision to provide free contraception as a political choice, highlighting the possibility of similar action in Quebec.
Last year, Biron raised controversy by proposing to enshrine a woman's right to choose in law. However, after facing opposition from women's groups and legal experts, she backed down, opting instead to focus on improving access to abortion services.
Legault echoed the sentiment, arguing that there are no current legal barriers to abortion in Canada and that any new laws could potentially restrict access. "Even a pro-choice law could be amended later to impose limits," she warned, calling Biron's earlier proposal "potentially dangerous."
