CCLA Will Sue New Brunswick Over Abortion Restrictions

October 15, 2020

TORONTO – The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has begun the process of taking New Brunswick to court over its abortion restrictions by issuing a formal demand letter.

“We are giving the government a chance to repeal its laws that limit abortion in New Brunswick,” said Michael Bryant, Executive Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA).

“But ultimately we expect that this will head to court, in order to ensure fair access to safe and legal abortions in New Brunswick.”

“New Brunswick’s restrictions on abortions are insidious and create undue hardship on women, girls and trans individuals. Only three hospitals in New Brunswick are approved to carry out abortion services. With those three hospitals in two cities, 90% of New Brunswickers do not have adequate abortion services in their local community,” said Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, CCLA’s Equality Program Director.

Clinic 554, a family medical practice that is also the only surgical abortion provider in Fredericton, is closing due to the province’s exclusion of non-hospital abortions from coverage.

Should the New Brunswick government fail to eliminate their abortion restrictions and create accessible abortion, the CCLA will commence legal proceedings to ensure the protection of reproductive justice in the province and to protect the constitutional rights of women, girls and trans individuals.

“Abortion care is critical healthcare and the province’s continued failure to increase access has imposed immeasurable burdens on vulnerable individuals. We’re continuing Dr. Morgentaler’s fight, and are committed to seeing this through,” concluded Mendelsohn Aviv.

Read the entire letter to the Premier.