Minister mum on abortion access
REGINA The person charged with overseeing rural and remote health in Saskatchewan is refusing to answer questions about access to abortions in the province.
For the second day in a row, minister Greg Ottenbreit was asked by the Opposition NDP questions about access to abortions in rural Saskatchewan. And for the second day in a row, someone other than Ottenbreit — who is pro-life — answered those questions.
NDP health critic Danielle Chartier said Monday the “government is failing women by not providing sufficient and equitable access to reproductive health services across the province.”
She asked Ottenbreit to confirm the issue of abortions is a “non-issue” and commit to working with the Ministry of Health to “ensure improved access to these health services in the province.”
Attorney General Don Morgan responded to those questions, saying the Saskatchewan Party government is “absolutely committed” to provisions in the Canada Health Act laid out by the Supreme Court of Canada, which protects abortions as a medical service.
Despite Morgan’s commitment, three of the six candidates currently running to run the Sask. Party, and by extension become premier, have stated pro-life views. Each left the door open to considering legislation that would restrict access to abortions, before partially backtracking from that stance following controversy over the issue.
“What we’re asking the rural and remote health minister is a very simple question: Does he support the law? Will he support access for women in rural and remote locations?” said NDP Leader Nicole Sarauer.
On Tuesday, Chartier again directed questions toward Ottenbreit about access to reproductive health services in the province. It was Premier Brad Wall who responded to those questions. He referenced comments made by NDP MLA and current leadership hopeful in that party, Ryan Meili, in 2013 to the StarPhoenix.
Meili said at that time he supports “full spectrum of reproductive health services from education to contraception to termination” and has always been “completely open with all patients about their options” and “certainly would never do anything to obstruct someone who chose termination.”
He also said he recognizes a distinction “between personal beliefs and political and legal policy.”
Wall used those comments in response to Chartier’s questions, suggesting there can be a distinction between personal beliefs and political policy.
Adding to ongoing NDP concerns over access to abortions in the province are documents obtained by the StarPhoenix prepared for the Sask. Party government after it requested an opinion on introducing a law forcing girls to receive parental consent before getting an abortion.
Sources say the documents said any attempt to introduce such a law would create multiple constitutional issues, at least one of which would be insurmountable.