Women say, ‘Hands off abortion rights’
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On a cool, damp Saturday afternoon, on the front steps of Toronto’s Old City Hall, nearly 100 people gathered to demand “Reproductive Justice: Equal Ac cess Now!” Oct. 20 was a Pan-Canadian Day of Action to defend women’s right to choose abortion, and to oppose efforts by Conservative and Liberal politicians at all levels to erode or eliminate this right.
Early in October, MPs defeated by a two-to-one mar gin an anti-abortion Conservative private member’s bill, which was nonetheless supported by over 100 MPs. Meanwhile, the Conservative Harper govern ment refuses to implement provisions of the Canada Health Act that guarantee equal access. Women in Prince Edward Island province have no access to abortion, and women in New Brunswick have to pay for clinic abortions.
The Toronto rally, organized by the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada and the Ontario Coali tion for Abortion Clinics, demanded repro ductive health care for all, including refu gees who the government has just deprived of this benefit.
Two New Democratic Party MPs ad dressed the rally, including Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina), along with a representa tive of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, a spokesperson for an aboriginal women’s organization, youth activists, and veteran abortion rights campaigners.
Youth for Socialist Action and Socialist Ac tion members actively promoted the event, and participated in the rally with promi nent banners, leaflet distribution and suc cessful press sales. — B.W.