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

Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino says he will likely be speaking with the Canada Border Companies Agency to ensure its workers know Individuals seeking abortions can come to Canada for care.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Mendicino stated people in the U.S. may be feeling doubt about whether or not they may be capable to entry abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, as a leaked draft ruling from the U.S. Supreme Courtroom steered earlier this week is imminent.

NEW: Minister @marcomendicino says he’s speaking with @CanBorder to verify there are clear guidelines so Individuals who might not be capable to entry an abortion can come to Canada to take action. Says capacity to do so isn’t in question but he wants to verify issues are clear. pic.twitter.com/qEqVQuUKJT

— Abigail Bimman (@AbigailBimman) Could 4, 2022

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Mendicino stated the power of People to come back to Canada for abortions will not be in question, but he needs to be sure that position is obvious to these working on the frontlines at the border.

“I’ve engaged CBSA, my workplace is at present working with them to make sure there are clear tips so that ladies who may not be capable of access healthcare together with abortions are able to come to Canada,” he said.

“If some ladies want to come to Canada to access those procedures, I've 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 “remove any ambiguity” that border officers might have as as to whether someone travelling to Canada for an abortion is eligible to enter the nation.

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What is unclear at the moment is whether any data on those people would be shared with American regulation enforcement or state officers looking to prosecute people for travelling for an abortion, as some experts have instructed could be next if Roe v. Wade falls.

Canada and the U.S. have in depth cross-border data sharing agreements designed to make it easier to flag individuals who could pose a risk to nationwide safety, or who are violating immigration rules.

Alexander Cohen, director of communications for Mendicino’s office, stated the government doesn't share basic data relating to the purpose of journey for People coming to Canada, “and that would come with those that come to Canada for reproductive health functions.”

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Within the context of abortion rights, jurisdictions that provide entry to these exterior their borders are also known as “safe havens.”

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States like California have vowed to enshrine abortion access extra strongly in their laws within the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft ruling on Roe v. Wade, whereas experts are additionally raising the chance that for People near the Canadian border, this country could grow to be their nearest safe haven.

Learn extra: 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 secure haven of People,” said Dr. Dustin Costescu, an affiliate professor at McMaster University as well as a family planning and sexual health specialist.

Costescu said all the information out there right now suggests there'll remain abortion entry in plenty of states alongside the Japanese Seaboard if Roe v. Wade falls, together with New York.

That might mean Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes might not see a “important” stage of spillover.

“Michigan, then again, turns into a little bit of a scorching spot by way of whether abortion is accessible. As we transfer westward into the U.S. Midwest, that’s where we see pockets of states that may fall when Roe v Wade falls,” he added.

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

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Read more: How abortion access differs throughout U.S. — and how overturning Roe v. Wade might change it

Autumn Reinhardt-Simpson is the founder of the Alberta Abortion Entry Network, and works as what’s often called an abortion doula. Which means her job is helping people who need abortions access them.

The support she and different abortion doulas offer consists of assist arranging travel, pickup and drop-off at sexual well being clinics or abortion clinics, help arranging accommodations if an individual has to leave their dwelling group to get the abortion, assist accessing correct data, in addition to emotional support.

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

“Access in Alberta is best than some locations, however still not great,” she stated. “We nonetheless have a hard time getting folks in rural areas into the cities for his or her appointments, particularly as a result of there are so few docs which might be yet prescribing abortion remedy.”

Reinhardt-Simpson said an inflow of individuals coming north might add to those challenges.

“We’re probably not geared up for coping with Albertans who want abortion care. We can't even present comprehensive well being services for girls or trans and non-binary people in our own province,” she stated.

“So for positive, if folks did come up right here in giant numbers, there could be a really big downside.”

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