American Women Can Come to Canada If They Need an Abortion, Minister Says

Karina Gould, Canada’s minister of families, children and social development, said that if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade in the U.S., American women will have access to abortion services north of the border.

On Tuesday, the MP was asked if the federal government will allow Americans to obtain abortions in Canada after a leaked draft opinion shows the U.S. Supreme Court suggested Roe v. Wade to be overruled. 

“I don’t see why we would not. If they, people, come here and need access, certainly, you know, that’s a service that would be provided,” Gould told host Vassy Kapelos in a CBC News interview. 

Gould expressed concerns regarding the draft leak and how it could potentially affect Canadians. She said, “one of the concerning factors here is that there are many Canadian women who maybe don’t live near a major city in Canada, but will often access these services in the United States.”

“I’m very concerned about the leak,” said Gould. “I’m very concerned about what this means, particularly for American women, but also for Canadian women.”

The MP’s concerns came after Politico, an American political news outlet, released a copy of the initial draft opinion written by Samuel Alito, a U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Republican appointee.

The draft contains suggestions by a majority of justices to return the issue of abortion to state legislatures by overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that allowed American women to obtain legal abortions. The draft argues that Roe was “egregiously wrong from the start” calling its reasoning “exceptionally weak.” The opinion makes claims that the decision had “damaging consequences” by taking away state official’s power to regulate abortions and causing a divide in the nation.

Gould said the government of Canada is “committed to upholding” abortion rights as well as sexual and reproductive medical services.

“What we’re seeing in the United States, we cannot assume that will not happen in Canada because we’re already seeing some of that very activity,” she said, mentioning harassment of people outside abortion clinics.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted about his support for abortion rights.

“The right to choose is a woman’s right and a woman’s right alone,” he said. “Every woman in Canada has a right to a safe and legal abortion. We’ll never back down from protecting and promoting women’s rights in Canada and around the world.”

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said the potential overturn of the 1973 decision in the U.S. is “deeply concerning” and women’s reproductive rights are “dangerously threatened.”

On Wednesday, Canada’s public safety minister Marco Mendicino said he would speak with the Canada Border Services Agency to ensure its staff is aware that Americans seeking abortions can come to Canada for care.

“I’ve engaged CBSA, my office is currently working with them to make sure there are clear guidelines so that women who may not be able to access healthcare including abortions are able to come to Canada,” he said.

“If some women want to come to Canada to access those procedures, I have given them the directive to welcome them.”