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

Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino says he will likely be talking with the Canada Border Providers Company to verify its employees know Individuals searching for abortions can come to Canada for care.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Mendicino said people in the U.S. could also be feeling doubt about whether or not they may have the ability to access abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, as a leaked draft ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court instructed earlier this week is imminent.

NEW: Minister @marcomendicino says he’s talking with @CanBorder to verify there are clear tips so People who could not be capable of access an abortion can come to Canada to take action. Says capacity to take action isn’t in question however he needs to verify things are clear. pic.twitter.com/qEqVQuUKJT

— Abigail Bimman (@AbigailBimman) Could 4, 2022

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Mendicino stated the flexibility of People to return to Canada for abortions will not be in question, but he needs to make sure that place is clear to those engaged on the frontlines on the border.

“I’ve engaged CBSA, my workplace is at present working with them to verify there are clear guidelines so that girls who could not be able to access healthcare including abortions are capable of come to Canada,” he mentioned.

“If some women wish to come to Canada to access those procedures, I've given them the directive to welcome them,” he added in French.

Mendicino billed the move as a “measure of warning” in the event Roe v. Wade is overturned and described the hope as being to “get rid of any ambiguity” that border officers may have as to whether someone travelling to Canada for an abortion is eligible to enter the country.

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What is unclear presently is whether or not any info on these people could be shared with American law enforcement or state officials looking to prosecute individuals for travelling for an abortion, as some experts have prompt may very well 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 could pose a danger to nationwide security, or who are violating immigration rules.

Alexander Cohen, director of communications for Mendicino’s office, said the government doesn't share general information regarding the purpose of journey for People coming to Canada, “and that would come with those that come to Canada for reproductive health purposes.”

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In the context of abortion rights, jurisdictions that present entry to those outdoors their borders are sometimes called “secure havens.”

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States like California have vowed to enshrine abortion entry extra strongly in their legal guidelines in the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft ruling on Roe v. Wade, whereas consultants are also raising the likelihood that for Individuals close to the Canadian border, this country may change into their nearest secure haven.

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

“I think the big challenges for Canadians are going to be ongoing access to abortion if Canada turns into a protected haven of People,” mentioned Dr. Dustin Costescu, an affiliate professor at McMaster College in addition to a household planning and sexual well being specialist.

Costescu stated all the data out there right now suggests there'll remain abortion entry in quite a lot of states along the Eastern Seaboard if Roe v. Wade falls, together with New York.

That may mean Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes could not see a “vital” degree of spillover.

“Michigan, however, becomes a bit of a sizzling spot when it comes to whether abortion is accessible. As we move 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 country.’ These are large distances. But if folks 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 access differs throughout U.S. — and the way overturning Roe v. Wade might change it

Autumn Reinhardt-Simpson is the founder of the Alberta Abortion Access Network, and works as what’s known as an abortion doula. Meaning her job helps people who need abortions entry them.

The assist she and other abortion doulas provide consists of help arranging travel, pickup and drop-off at sexual health clinics or abortion clinics, help arranging lodging if an individual has to go away their dwelling community to get the abortion, help accessing accurate info, as well as emotional assist.

She told International Information on Tuesday that assets in lots of parts of her province are already stretched.

“Access in Alberta is best than some locations, however still not great,” she said. “We still have a hard time getting folks in rural areas into the cities for his or her appointments, particularly because there are so few medical doctors which might be but prescribing abortion treatment.”

Reinhardt-Simpson mentioned an influx of people coming north might add to those challenges.

“We’re probably not outfitted for coping with Albertans who need abortion care. We can't even present complete well being services for women or trans and non-binary people in our personal province,” she stated.

“So for certain, if folks did come up right here in massive numbers, there would be a really massive downside.”

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