Trudeau fails women and gender-diverse people as Fredericton’s only abortion clinic closes for good

NDP Critic for Women and Gender Equality, Families, Children and Social Development, and Deputy Critic for Housing MP Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) made the following statement in reaction to Fredericton abortion clinic, Clinic 554, announcing its closure:

“All women and gender-diverse people, no matter where they live in Canada, have a right to access safe, trauma-informed abortion care. Now, people in Fredericton do not have a single provider for abortion due to the Liberal’s failure to enforce the Canada Health Act. As service providers and advocates are challenging the New Brunswick government’s decisions in court, Justin Trudeau chooses to stay silent as the clinic he promised to keep open closes and this fundamental Charter right continues to be violated. This is a total failure of the Liberal government. Even before this crisis, New Brunswickers were facing wait times of 4-8 weeks to access abortion care across the province.

Although Trudeau talks about reproductive rights, he continues to fail to uphold these rights by not ensuring the proper resources for safe trauma-informed abortion care.

If the Liberals were serious about upholding the right to choose, they would have the courage to put in place measures to enforce the Canada Health Act and hold provinces accountable when they restrict abortion care. This would be no better under the Conservatives, who are actively attempting to deny the right to safe abortion care through backdoor legislation.

Trudeau’s so-called feminist government has once again failed women and gender-diverse people in New Brunswick. Their health and safety are at risk, and the Charter rights of all people in Canada are under threat. The NDP is calling on Trudeau to go beyond words and protect this charter right.”