Concerns over Sask. abortion access raised in wake of Roe v. Wade decision

While the overturning of Roe v. Wade doesn’t have any legal fallout in Canada, advocates are raising the alarm over concerns about access to safe abortion in Saskatchewan.

Claire Carter is an associate professor of Gender, Religion and Critical Studies at the University of Regina.

Reproductive justice isn’t her area of academic expertise, but it’s an issue she’s passionate about.

She said the issue will “for sure” have an impact in Canada.

“I think all of us should feel personally connected to this issue, it’s a critical health care issue,” she said, noting that any concerns about restrictions to health care services should be raised.

She said the official overturning of the critical Roe v. Wade decision in the United States isn’t shocking but should be concerning for women and people with uteruses in Canada and the U.S.

Carter’s biggest concern is that the decision made across the border to allow individual states to decide for themselves whether to allow for legal abortions could lead to more difficulties accessing services here in Canada.

When it comes to communities and individuals who are already marginalized, Carter said increasing health disparities are especially harmful.

Canada does allow for safe, legal abortion services to be offered, but Carter said there are “significant barriers to access to abortion across Canada,” including in Saskatchewan.

She said the province has limited access to safe abortions, which has been further intensified since the loss of Greyhound bus services.

“My hope is that this will be a momentum to draw attention to and say we need to make sure these things are in place,” Carter said.

She noted the issue is one Saskatchewan advocates have been very vocal and active around already.

“The hope is that more people will see this as something we need to be (continuing) to work towards.”

—With files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie