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

Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino says he will likely be talking with the Canada Border Services Agency to verify its employees know People looking for abortions can come to Canada for care.

Talking with reporters on Wednesday, Mendicino said individuals in the U.S. could also be feeling doubt about whether they may be capable to entry abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, as a leaked draft ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court recommended earlier this week is imminent.

NEW: Minister @marcomendicino says he’s speaking with @CanBorder to verify there are clear pointers so People who may not be capable to access an abortion can come to Canada to do so. Says ability to take action isn’t in question however he wants to verify things are clear. pic.twitter.com/qEqVQuUKJT

— Abigail Bimman (@AbigailBimman) May 4, 2022

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Mendicino mentioned the power of Americans to come to Canada for abortions isn't in query, but he desires to ensure that place is evident to those working on the frontlines at the border.

“I’ve engaged CBSA, my workplace is presently working with them to make sure there are clear pointers so that girls who may not be able to entry healthcare including abortions are able to come to Canada,” he mentioned.

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

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

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What's unclear right now is whether or not any info on those people could be shared with American law enforcement or state officers looking to prosecute folks for travelling for an abortion, as some consultants have advised might be next if Roe v. Wade falls.

Canada and the U.S. have intensive cross-border information sharing agreements designed to make it simpler to flag people who might pose a danger to national safety, or who're violating immigration rules.

Alexander Cohen, director of communications for Mendicino’s office, mentioned the federal government does not share common data regarding the purpose of journey for Americans coming to Canada, “and that would include those who come to Canada for reproductive health functions.”

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In the context of abortion rights, jurisdictions that present entry to these outdoors 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 in the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court docket draft ruling on Roe v. Wade, whereas specialists are also elevating the likelihood that for Individuals close to the Canadian border, this nation could turn into their nearest protected haven.

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

“I think the large challenges for Canadians are going to be ongoing entry to abortion if Canada becomes a secure haven of Individuals,” stated Dr. Dustin Costescu, an associate professor at McMaster University in addition to a household planning and sexual well being specialist.

Costescu stated all the information available proper now suggests there'll remain abortion access in numerous states alongside the Eastern Seaboard if Roe v. Wade falls, together with New York.

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

“Michigan, on the other hand, turns into a little bit of a sizzling spot when it comes to whether 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, that is thought-about ‘frontier country.’ These are massive 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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Learn extra: How abortion access differs across U.S. — and how overturning Roe v. Wade could change it

Autumn Reinhardt-Simpson is the founding father of the Alberta Abortion Entry Community, and works as what’s generally known as an abortion doula. Which means her job is helping individuals who want abortions access them.

The help she and other abortion doulas offer contains assist arranging travel, pickup and drop-off at sexual well being clinics or abortion clinics, help arranging lodging if an individual has to leave their residence group to get the abortion, assist accessing accurate data, in addition to emotional assist.

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

“Entry in Alberta is best than some places, but still not nice,” she mentioned. “We still have a tough time getting folks in rural areas into the cities for their appointments, especially because there are so few docs that are yet prescribing abortion treatment.”

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

“We’re not really geared up for coping with Albertans who want abortion care. We can't even present complete well being providers for women or trans and non-binary folks in our own province,” she mentioned.

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

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