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

Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino says he can be talking with the Canada Border Companies Agency to ensure its workers know Americans searching for abortions can come to Canada for care.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Mendicino said people within the U.S. could also be feeling doubt about whether or not they may be capable of access abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, as a leaked draft ruling from the U.S. Supreme Courtroom urged earlier this week is imminent.

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

— Abigail Bimman (@AbigailBimman) Might 4, 2022

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Mendicino mentioned the ability of People to come back to Canada for abortions is just not in question, but he wants to be sure that position is evident to these engaged on the frontlines at the border.

“I’ve engaged CBSA, my workplace is at present working with them to verify there are clear guidelines so that women who could not be capable to access healthcare including abortions are capable of come to Canada,” he mentioned.

“If some women 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 occasion Roe v. Wade is overturned and described the hope as being to “remove any ambiguity” that border officers could have as to whether somebody travelling to Canada for an abortion is eligible to enter the country.

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What's unclear presently is whether or not any info on these individuals could be shared with American legislation enforcement or state officials seeking to prosecute individuals for travelling for an abortion, as some specialists have urged may very well be next if Roe v. Wade falls.

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

Alexander Cohen, director of communications for Mendicino’s office, mentioned the government does not share general info regarding the aim of journey for Americans coming to Canada, “and that would come with those that come to Canada for reproductive health purposes.”

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Within the context of abortion rights, jurisdictions that present entry to these exterior their borders are often referred to as “protected havens.”

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States like California have vowed to enshrine abortion entry more strongly in their laws within the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court docket draft ruling on Roe v. Wade, whereas specialists are additionally raising the possibility that for People near the Canadian border, this country could change into their nearest safe haven.

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

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

Costescu said all the data out there proper now suggests there'll stay abortion access in numerous states alongside the Japanese Seaboard if Roe v. Wade falls, together with New York.

That will mean Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes may not see a “significant” level of spillover.

“Michigan, alternatively, becomes a little bit of a hot spot when it comes to whether or not abortion is accessible. As we transfer westward into the U.S. Midwest, that’s the place we see pockets of states that can fall when Roe v Wade falls,” he added.

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

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

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

The help she and different abortion doulas provide consists of assist arranging journey, pickup and drop-off at sexual health clinics or abortion clinics, assist arranging accommodations if a person has to depart their dwelling community to get the abortion, help accessing accurate info, in addition to emotional assist.

She instructed International Information on Tuesday that sources in lots of elements of her province are already stretched.

“Access in Alberta is better than some locations, however nonetheless not nice,” she stated. “We nonetheless have a tough time getting folks in rural areas into the cities for their appointments, especially because there are so few doctors which might be but prescribing abortion treatment.”

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

“We’re not likely equipped for coping with Albertans who need abortion care. We cannot even present comprehensive health providers for women or trans and non-binary individuals in our own province,” she mentioned.

“So for sure, if people did come up here in giant numbers, there could be a very big problem.”

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