CCPA-MB FAST FACTS Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Mb • 309-323 Portage Ave. • , MB • Canada R3B 2C1 ph: (204) 927-3200 • fax: (204) 927-3201 • [email protected] • www.policyalternatives.ca/mb

September 23, 2002 women have access to abortions ... as long as they have time or money

two-tiered system persists in therapeutic abor- Authority (WRHA) to prepare a proposal for service de- tion services in Manitoba. In Winnipeg, a woman livery in 2000. Three options were presented. The first was A choosing to have an abortion can have the proce- to increase the capacity of hospitals, the second to fund the dure done within about a week at the Mortgantaler Clinic established Morgantaler Clinic, and the third was to fund a – if she spends $500. If she cannot or does not want to pay, community-based clinic. The government favored one of then the procedure is done through the community-based models. Talks the Health Sciences Centre (HSC) with Morgantaler broke down in where the wait for services can be A woman choosing to April 2001, and that option was up to six weeks in the summer abandoned. In August 2001, the months. In Manitoba, abortions are have an abortion can WRHA consulted with the Wom- covered under Medicare only if they en’s Health Clinic to develop a plan are performed in a hospital setting. have the procedure done for the creation of a clinic operated This is despite the fact that the as a satellite to the services offered provincial government gave its com- within about a week – if currently at the Women’s Health mitment to supporting a commu- she spends $500. If she Clinic in Winnipeg. Nothing since nity-based clinic for abortions over has happened to implement this a year ago. Little has happened since cannot afford to do so, plan. then to implement this commit- There are many benefits to of- ment. the wait for services can fering women the option of a clinic The Coalition for Reproduc- setting. “Services are on smaller scale tive Choice (CRC) has been advo- be up to six weeks. in a community clinic, and the serv- cating for increased access to abor- ice can be more responsive to cli- tion services for women for several ents’ needs” says Barbara years. They began a series of meetings with the Minister of Wiktorowicz, Executive Director of the Women’s Health Health, beginning in April 2000. The gov- Clinic. Many women consider community clinics to be ernment agreed to expand abortion services. less intimidating than hospitals and more anonymous. Clin- asked the Winnipeg Regional Health ics also use less medical interventions. Studies have proven Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-MB

that clinics are as safe as hospitals and cost less in the long But providing community-based clinics is not revolu- term. Most importantly, women’s choice as to where they tionary. In Canada, Manitoba is in the minority. Manitoba feel most comfortable would not be restricted by their abil- and New Brunswick are the only provinces that do not pro- ity to pay the $500 at the Morgantaler clinic. vide funding to clinics. Quebec and Nova Scotia pay the Doctors at the HSC have provided services to women physician’s fee. Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, On- for many years. However, there are some problems with the tario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia all pay for private administration of services. The idiosyncrasies of doctor’s or community clinic abortion services. schedules and the decentralized hospital system mean that The government has moved to improve the support when doctors go on holidays, they leave the system in a services necessary for women to have access to reproductive lurch. Abortion is time-sensitive, and when fewer doctors choice. They have committed to more funding to increase are available, women are forced to wait. Services centralized counselling and other related services. Plans are also in the in a clinic setting would mean that doctors could coordinate works for more public education on birth control and re- their vacation time, and therefore provide better service to productive health issues. women. These are important first steps in improving services for women, especially in a province with one of the highest Rural and Northern Services teen pregnancy rates in the country. But they do not go far Women in rural and northern Manitoba are also not enough. well served by the current arrangement. Women seeking When will the pro-choice NDP government demon- abortions paid for by Medicare must travel to Winnipeg to strate its commitment to the women of Manitoba by fol- attend several appointments sometimes days apart. Women lowing through on funding community-based abortion serv- absorb the expenses of travel and accommodations. Mani- ices? Time will tell. Meanwhile, women in a difficult stage toba Health will only cover the cost of travel by bus to Win- of their lives are paying the price for a cautious government. nipeg if a woman is located in The Pas or further north. Unnecessary time away from home can cause duress for — Molly McCracken women undergoing medical procedures. A community-based Molly McCracken is an active member of the women's health com- clinic could offer more flexible appointments for women munity in Manitoba. She has a Masters of Public Policy and Ad- travelling into Winnipeg. ministration specializing in women, gender and equality. Given the difficulties with hospital-based services for abortion and the government’s commitment to the com- munity model, why is it taking so long to fund the clinic? CCPA-MB FAST FACTS When Premier met with the Coalition for Re- are produced and distributed electronically on a productive Choice in February 2002, uncertainty over the regular basis. federal overpayment to Manitoba was cited as one of the They can be reproduced as an OpEd or opinion main reasons why the government could not immediately piece without obtaining further permission, provided fund the expansion of services at the Women’s Health Clinic. they are not edited, and credit is given. However, as of earlier this month, the overpayment situation If you would like to receive the FAST FACTS, has been resolved in the province’s favour. please contact the CCPA-MB to begin your free Does the news about the elimination of the federal subscription. overpayment mean that the government will fund the clinic Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Mb soon? Funding a community-based clinic for abortion is 309-323 Portage Ave. not just about money, it is about having the courage to fund Winnipeg, MB it. The perceived controversy over abortion has allowed the Canada R3B 2C1 government to lag on its commitment. Also, women receiv- ph: (204) 927-3200 ing the services are isolated. “People who need abortions fax: (204) 927-3201 aren’t exactly out there yelling for them,” explains Shelley [email protected] www.policyalternatives.ca/mb CAW 567 Blanco, Co-Chair of the Coalition for Reproductive Choice. OTTAWA