Canada will ensure border officials know Americans can journey for abortion: Mendicino – National

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says he will be talking with the Canada Border Providers Agency to verify its workers know Individuals seeking abortions can come to Canada for care.

Talking with reporters on Wednesday, Mendicino said folks in the U.S. could also be feeling doubt about whether or not they will be capable to access abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, as a leaked draft ruling from the U.S. Supreme Courtroom instructed earlier this week is imminent.

NEW: Minister @marcomendicino says he’s talking with @CanBorder to make sure there are clear guidelines so Individuals who may not be able to access an abortion can come to Canada to take action. Says capability to do so isn’t in query however he needs to make sure things are clear. pic.twitter.com/qEqVQuUKJT

— Abigail Bimman (@AbigailBimman) Might 4, 2022

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Mendicino stated the power of People to come to Canada for abortions isn't in question, however he needs to be sure that place is evident to these working on the frontlines at the border.

“I’ve engaged CBSA, my office is at present working with them to ensure there are clear guidelines so that girls who could not be capable to entry healthcare together with abortions are able to come to Canada,” he said.

“If some women need to come to Canada to entry these procedures, I have given them the directive to welcome them,” he added in French.

Mendicino billed the transfer as a “measure of warning” in the event Roe v. Wade is overturned and described the hope as being to “eradicate any ambiguity” that border officers may have as as to whether somebody travelling to Canada for an abortion is eligible to enter the country.

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What's unclear right now is whether or not any data on those individuals could be shared with American law enforcement or state officials seeking to prosecute individuals for travelling for an abortion, as some specialists have suggested could possibly be subsequent if Roe v. Wade falls.

Canada and the U.S. have extensive cross-border knowledge sharing agreements designed to make it easier to flag people who might pose a danger to nationwide safety, or who're violating immigration guidelines.

Alexander Cohen, director of communications for Mendicino’s office, said the government doesn't share basic data regarding the purpose of travel for Individuals coming to Canada, “and that would include those who come to Canada for reproductive health purposes.”

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In the context of abortion rights, jurisdictions that provide entry to those exterior their borders are sometimes called “safe havens.”

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States like California have vowed to enshrine abortion access extra strongly of their laws within the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court docket draft ruling on Roe v. Wade, whereas experts are additionally raising the likelihood that for Americans near the Canadian border, this country may turn into their nearest secure haven.

Read more: Roe v. Wade draft ruling places U.S. abortion rights in crosshairs. Right here’s what to know

“I believe the big challenges for Canadians are going to be ongoing access to abortion if Canada becomes a safe haven of Individuals,” said Dr. Dustin Costescu, an affiliate professor at McMaster University in addition to a family planning and sexual health specialist.

Costescu stated all the information available proper now suggests there'll stay abortion entry in a variety of states alongside the Jap Seaboard if Roe v. Wade falls, together with New York.

That will mean Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes may not see a “important” degree of spillover.

“Michigan, on the other hand, becomes a bit of a hot spot in terms of whether abortion is accessible. As we transfer westward into the U.S. Midwest, that’s the place we see pockets of states that can fall when Roe v Wade falls,” he added.

“Geographically, this is considered ‘frontier nation.’ These are large distances. But when folks have to choose to go hundreds of kilometers south or north [to access abortion], they may come up north.”

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Learn more: How abortion access differs across U.S. — and how overturning Roe v. Wade may change it

Autumn Reinhardt-Simpson is the founder of the Alberta Abortion Entry Network, and works as what’s known as an abortion doula. Meaning her job helps individuals who want abortions entry them.

The support she and other abortion doulas supply includes assist arranging travel, pickup and drop-off at sexual well being clinics or abortion clinics, assist arranging lodging if an individual has to depart their residence neighborhood to get the abortion, help accessing accurate info, as well as emotional support.

She told Global News on Tuesday that sources in lots of parts of her province are already stretched.

“Entry in Alberta is best than some locations, but nonetheless not great,” she mentioned. “We still have a tough time getting people in rural areas into the cities for his or her appointments, especially as a result of there are so few medical doctors which are yet prescribing abortion remedy.”

Reinhardt-Simpson said an influx of individuals coming north might add to these challenges.

“We’re not really geared up for coping with Albertans who need abortion care. We cannot even provide complete health providers for girls or trans and non-binary individuals in our own province,” she stated.

“So for sure, if individuals did come up here in giant numbers, there can be a really large drawback.”

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