Canada will guarantee border officials know Americans can travel for abortion: Mendicino – National

Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino says he might be talking with the Canada Border Services Company to ensure its staff know People in search of abortions can come to Canada for care.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Mendicino mentioned people within the U.S. could also be feeling doubt about whether they are going to be able to access 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 talking with @CanBorder to make sure there are clear tips so People who might not be capable to entry an abortion can come to Canada to do so. Says potential to take action isn’t in query but he desires to verify issues are clear. pic.twitter.com/qEqVQuUKJT

— Abigail Bimman (@AbigailBimman) Could 4, 2022

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Mendicino stated the ability of People to return to Canada for abortions just isn't in question, however he needs to ensure that position is obvious to those working on the frontlines at the border.

“I’ve engaged CBSA, my office is currently working with them to ensure there are clear pointers so that women who may not be able to entry healthcare including abortions are capable of come to Canada,” he said.

“If some women 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 “remove any ambiguity” that border officials might have as as to if somebody travelling to Canada for an abortion is eligible to enter the nation.

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What's unclear at the moment is whether any information on those people could be shared with American regulation enforcement or state officers trying to prosecute individuals for travelling for an abortion, as some specialists have advised might be next if Roe v. Wade falls.

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

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

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Could Canada change into an abortion 'safe haven'?

In the context of abortion rights, jurisdictions that provide entry to these outside their borders are also known as “protected havens.”

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States like California have vowed to enshrine abortion entry extra strongly in their laws within the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Courtroom draft ruling on Roe v. Wade, whereas specialists are additionally raising the likelihood that for Individuals close to the Canadian border, this country may turn into their nearest secure haven.

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

“I believe the massive challenges for Canadians are going to be ongoing entry to abortion if Canada becomes a protected haven of Americans,” mentioned Dr. Dustin Costescu, an associate professor at McMaster University as well as a household planning and sexual well being specialist.

Costescu mentioned all the information accessible right now suggests there'll stay abortion entry in a number of states along the Eastern Seaboard if Roe v. Wade falls, together with New York.

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

“Michigan, alternatively, becomes a bit of a sizzling spot in terms 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, this is thought of ‘frontier nation.’ These are massive distances. But if people have to decide on to go hundreds of kilometers south or north [to access abortion], they might come up north.”

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Learn more: How abortion entry differs across U.S. — and the way overturning Roe v. Wade might change it

Autumn Reinhardt-Simpson is the founding father of the Alberta Abortion Access Network, and works as what’s often called an abortion doula. Meaning her job is helping individuals who need abortions entry them.

The support she and other abortion doulas provide contains help arranging travel, pickup and drop-off at sexual well being clinics or abortion clinics, help arranging lodging if a person has to leave their house neighborhood to get the abortion, assist accessing correct data, as well as emotional support.

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

“Entry in Alberta is best than some locations, however nonetheless not great,” she said. “We still have a hard time getting individuals in rural areas into the cities for their appointments, especially because there are so few medical doctors that are but prescribing abortion remedy.”

Reinhardt-Simpson said an influx of people coming north could add to those challenges.

“We’re probably not geared up for dealing with Albertans who need abortion care. We can't even provide complete health services for ladies or trans and non-binary individuals in our personal province,” she stated.

“So for sure, if individuals did come up right here in massive numbers, there can be a really large downside.”

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