Alberta’s lack of abortion facilities is a problem

The Letters section of this newspaper is frequently the forum for debate regarding abortion; a weekly push and pull between pro-life and pro-choice advocates — most recently focused on controversial advertising imagery on city transit properties.

It is my opinion that all parties involved should just stop arguing and leave it up to the individual woman to decide. It is her life, her future, her body and her baby. But this letter is not about that.

Abortion is legal in Canada. This is a fact. While abortion should never be used as a form of birth control, neither should be it used as a political wedge to divide us. Nor should those seeking an abortion feel guilt or shame about their completely legal decision. Women (and families) who are dealing with unplanned, unsafe or unwanted pregnancies have enough on their plates already, without being bombarded by the pseudo-religious vitriol of complete strangers. With that being said, what bothers me the most about the entire abortion issue is this:

In Alberta, there are only a handful of doctors willing to perform abortions. These doctors operate out of just three clinics, all located in Calgary and Edmonton. Women seeking abortions in Lethbridge have no choice but to travel to Calgary. I assume that residents of Medicine Hat, Red Deer and dozens of other Alberta towns must do the same if they wish to undergo this totally legal procedure.

Meanwhile, the few brave abortion clinics seem nearly overwhelmed by the women of all ages, colours and creeds that utilize their services — women who greatly appreciate the fact that those services are there in the first place.

I care much less about the sad, graphic imagery being forced upon us by the pro-life groups than I do about this lack of facilities and infrastructure in our province meant to support those who need them most. I feel that there should be at least one clinic in every mid-sized population centre, thus making it easier for those that opt to have an abortion to do so. Since abortion is a legitimate and legal health service, it should be more easily available to those women who, as stated in our own Canadian legal system, do indeed have the right to choose.

If anything related to this topic deserves placard-waving and public expressionism, it is this: more doctors, more clinics, more access.

Chris Hibbard

Lethbridge