Canadian women against new anti-choice law

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SOCIALIST ACTION JULY 1990 9 'ol Ie gy vIof to ent ior nd ivnd the InRI cty.

•ABOR COL THE INCISCO June 1, 1990 : a copy of your April 26, 1990 letter to resident of the Oregon AFL-CIO, regarding incil's review of resolutions relating to the process for review of the resolutions ion, we believe it appropriate to inform uncils have already taken positions in he right of women to make reproductive vernmental interference.

objective revien of the history of the eal that the Federation has always been in Rights battles. We strongly believe a eproductive rights by the AFL-CIO will wide cross section of not only union ple in general. in our area.

uest you to present our position Issues prior to the consideration of the ouncil.

have been introduced-whether by means of "material incentives" or outright sterilization-they have been an infringement upon women's civil liberties and their rights to have control over their own bodies. Such government population-control policies portray women as criminals for having "too many children." In reality, they are the victims of an antiquated social system that is unwilling and unable to spread the bounties of the earth to the entire population.

NOW members cannot let themselves be fooled by the population-control advocates. The feminist movement must stay firmly centered on the struggle for a woman's right to choose.

LL INCII OF FR to the Wayne Warbolt, Exec. Director Sacramento Labor Council Secty. Walter Johnson / Secty. il San Francisco Labor Council sident Art Pulaski, Exec. Secty.

San Mateo Labor Council Women across English Canada and Quebec took to the streets as soon as the House of Commons announced its intention to begin debate on the new abortion law proposed by Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

Considering the short notice, the turn-out for the emergency protests on May 25, was significant. In addition to demonstrations in Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Kingston, Montreal, Ottawa, Saskatoon, Saint John's, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg, actions were held in such small towns as Antigonish, Colburg, Port Elgin, and Port Perry.

At its convention in May, the Canadian Labour Congress overwhelmingly went on record in support of abortion rights. Only two of the approximately 2000 delegates voted against this pro-choice resolution.

This support was visibly demonstrated as labor speakers at many of the May 25 rallies demanded that the proposed new law be defeated. These speakers compared the current struggle of women for reproductive rights to the labor struggles of the '30s.

During the week's debate preceding the House vote, all amendments to the proposed law were rejected. On May 29, women packed the House galleries to show their opposition to the pending legislation. The upon the Senate to hold public hearings.

Cherie MacDonald, a spokesperson for the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics (OCAC), pointed out that the stated purpose of the Senate is to "provide sober second thought" so that harmful legislation isn't rushed onto the books. She added that this bill should certainly require such "sober second thought."

OR emboldened These legal attacks on abortion rights have emboldened Operation Rescue to step up their physical assaults on abortion clinics.

When pro-choice supporters learned that Operation Rescue planned a major attack against the Toronto Scott clinic on Saturday, June 16, they showed up in sufficient numbers to keep the Operation Rescue thugs on the opposite side of the street. Realizing they were too badly outnumbered to carry out their disruptive plans, the Operation Rescue goons said the rosary and left.

Several clinics have been vandalized this year. In Toronto, someone tampered with the clinic's phone service. One day, patients calling the clinic received a recorded message saying no one was home. The next day, patients' calls were answered, "Acme Coat Hanger Company." The third day, patients calling the clinic number reached the Toronto Right to Life office. It took police The Toronto Globe & Mail, a major big business daily, ran a series of articles detailing the disastrous effect of the new law and quoting physicians opposed to these new restrictions. These articles stated, "This law is just asking people to set up doctors." Antichoice groups are publicly urging that doctors who perform abortions be sued.

Many doctors have given in to the pressure and stopped performing abortions. Others now require a second medical opinion to protect themselves against potential legal action. Many doctors who continue to perform abortions say they are now very careful about who they will accept as patients. Dr. Morgenthaler has started requiring patients at his Toronto clinic to sign a paper to protect himself against potential lawsuits.

MacDonald said the limitation of access since the vote in the House gives a taste of what the situation will be like for Canadian and Quebecois women if the new law is allowed to take effect. She explained how the situation for women will be much the same as under the old abortion law which was ruled unconstitutional by the Canadian Supreme Court.

Very few hospitals will perform abortions. Even though not required by the new law, in practice abortions will only be performed when approved by a committee of doctors. Although clinics are permitted under the new law, very few are being set up, and entire provinces have outlawed them. Like hospitals, clinics will only be permitted to perform medically necessary abortions.

Increased restrictions on access to abortion have already had a deadly result. The day before the House vote, a young woman from Kitchener was admitted to the hospital suffering complications from a botched, illegal abortion. Soon after, Yvonne Jurawicz, a West Toronto resident, died of a self-induced abortion. Her boyfriend explained that she had been afraid to face the blockades and harassment at the clinics.

On June 15, pro-choice supporters held a vigil outside Tory headquarters in Toronto. Placing flowers on the office steps, they said the responsibility for Jurawicz's death rested with those who voted for the new law. They then marched to Toronto's Old City Hall.

At a press conference, abortion providers pointed out that similar deaths from botched abortions hadn't been seen since the 1960s. They explained that two cases in one week suggested the devastating results of the message women were receiving from the government. They added that instead of forcing women into dangerous back-alley abortions, the government should be encouraging the provinces to set up clinics fully funded by the provincial health insurance plans.

Anti-choice groups have used Jurawicz's tragic death as an excuse to further harass clinics and pro-choice activists. These misogynic bigots claim that Jurawicz never would have thought of using a coat hanger if it weren't for the pro-choice groups' use of a coat hanger as a symbol of illegal abortions. MacDonald received a late-night phone call at her home which began, "Isn't it convenient that it's just what the doctor ordered: a classic coat hanger abortion."

Ontario pro-choice groups are planning a conference in July. This will include many women in newly established groups in small towns and rural areas. The Pro-Choice Action Network will hold a national conference in August. A cross country day of action is planned for Saturday, Oct. 13.

MacDonald explained, "Every day more and more women are becoming involvedworking women, high school and college students, immigrant women, Black and Native women. Regardless of the outcome of the vote in the Senate, we won't stop until every woman in Quebec and English Canada has access to safe, legal abortion, fully funded by the provincial health-care system."