Canada will guarantee border officers know Individuals can journey for abortion: Mendicino – National

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says he shall be talking with the Canada Border Services Agency to verify its employees know People searching for abortions can come to Canada for care.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Mendicino mentioned people within the U.S. may be feeling doubt about whether they'll be capable to entry abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, as a leaked draft ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court urged earlier this week is imminent.

NEW: Minister @marcomendicino says he’s speaking with @CanBorder to ensure there are clear pointers so Americans who may not be able to entry an abortion can come to Canada to take action. Says potential to do so isn’t in query but he needs to verify things are clear. pic.twitter.com/qEqVQuUKJT

— Abigail Bimman (@AbigailBimman) May 4, 2022

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Mendicino mentioned the power of Individuals to come to Canada for abortions isn't in question, however he wants to make sure that position is evident to these engaged on the frontlines at the border.

“I’ve engaged CBSA, my workplace is presently working with them to make sure there are clear guidelines so that girls who might not be capable to entry healthcare including abortions are in a position to come to Canada,” he stated.

“If some girls want to come to Canada to entry these procedures, I've given them the directive to welcome them,” he added in French.

Mendicino billed the move as a “measure of caution” in the event Roe v. Wade is overturned and described the hope as being to “eliminate any ambiguity” that border officials could have as to whether someone travelling to Canada for an abortion is eligible to enter the country.

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What's unclear at the moment is whether or not any information on these people could be shared with American legislation enforcement or state officials looking to prosecute people for travelling for an abortion, as some specialists have advised could possibly be subsequent if Roe v. Wade falls.

Canada and the U.S. have in depth cross-border information sharing agreements designed to make it simpler to flag people who could pose a risk to national safety, or who're violating immigration guidelines.

Alexander Cohen, director of communications for Mendicino’s workplace, mentioned the federal government does not share general information concerning the purpose of journey for People coming to Canada, “and that would come with those who come to Canada for reproductive health functions.”

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In the context of abortion rights, jurisdictions that present access to those exterior their borders are also known as “safe havens.”

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States like California have vowed to enshrine abortion access more strongly in their legal guidelines within the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft ruling on Roe v. Wade, while specialists are also raising the possibility that for Americans close to the Canadian border, this country might turn out to be their nearest safe haven.

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

“I feel the massive challenges for Canadians are going to be ongoing access to abortion if Canada becomes a secure haven of Americans,” said Dr. Dustin Costescu, an affiliate professor at McMaster College in addition to a family planning and sexual well being specialist.

Costescu mentioned all the data available right now suggests there'll stay abortion entry in various states alongside the Eastern Seaboard if Roe v. Wade falls, including New York.

That might imply Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes could not see a “important” degree of spillover.

“Michigan, then again, turns into a bit of a hot spot by way of whether or not abortion is accessible. As we move westward into the U.S. Midwest, that’s the place we see pockets of states that will fall when Roe v Wade falls,” he added.

“Geographically, this is considered ‘frontier nation.’ These are giant distances. But if individuals have to decide on to go hundreds of kilometers south or north [to access abortion], they could come up north.”

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

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

The help she and other abortion doulas offer contains help arranging journey, pickup and drop-off at sexual health clinics or abortion clinics, help arranging accommodations if an individual has to depart their home community to get the abortion, assist accessing accurate info, as well as emotional assist.

She advised World Information on Tuesday that sources in many elements of her province are already stretched.

“Access in Alberta is best than some places, but nonetheless not great,” she said. “We still have a hard time getting folks in rural areas into the cities for their appointments, especially as a result of there are so few doctors which are but prescribing abortion medication.”

Reinhardt-Simpson stated an influx of people coming north may add to these challenges.

“We’re probably not outfitted for dealing with Albertans who want abortion care. We cannot even present comprehensive health services for women or trans and non-binary people in our own province,” she stated.

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

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