Critics call for ‘less painful, faster’ abortion access
The two parties vying to be the power brokers in New Brunswick’s minority parliament could scarcely be more different when it comes to policies and leadership styles.
The vote on Monday saw surprise gains for the People’s Alliance Party, a party on the right of the spectrum that has questioned policies such as ensuring francophones have the right to separate school bus services.
Its leader, Kris Austin, has a populist style, and was in an exuberant mood on Monday evening.
“This is what victory looks like folks,” he told new constituents in Fredericton-Grand Lakes, with his party elected or leading in three seats of the 49-seat legislature, late on Monday night.
“The People’s Alliance tapped into that frustration with the governing elites. They call themselves the People’s Alliance for a reason. They’re the people’s party,” said Don Wright, a political scientist at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton.
The party favours dropping the moratorium on fracking, bringing in electoral recall and dropping corporate subsidies.
Meanwhile, David Coon, the Green leader who was handily re-elected in Fredericton South, adopted his familiar low-key, critical stance as his party expanded to three seats in the legislature.
His acceptance speech seemed to cast his new rival in a harsh light, perhaps signalling the message he’ll be delivering about his new rival in the months to come.
“The people of Fredericton South voted for hope, not fear. They voted for kindness . ... They voted for change, not the status quo. And you voted for goodwill and not for anger,” he said, as the Greens had been declared elected in three ridings — two with large francophone populations.
In an interview late Monday night, he said Austin’s party is willing to strip away services to francophones in emergency medical services, and advance environmental policies that lead to carbon pollution.
“It seems willing people’s rights away to take when it comes to the Acadians and francophones of this province . ... They also seem prepared to open up and support fracking to exploit shale gas in the face or risk to our water supply and climate change,” he said.
“They’re pretty differences.”
Austin said there are some differences between the two smaller parties, but noted that both have called for an end to the spraying of glyphosate on forests and more free votes of members of the legislature.
“There’s some common ground there, but we’ll see how it works going forward,” he said. fundamental
Advocates are calling on Nova Scotia to improve access to abortion services to help make the process “less painful, less emotional, and faster.”
Lenore Zann, NDP critic for women’s issues, says the province’s doctor shortage creates a problem for women seeking abortions because there are fewer medical professionals to do ultrasounds or prescribe Mifegymiso, better known as the abortion pill.
“We need more doctors, especially gynecologists and people that can help women with their own specific health issues,” she said Monday, noting that more doctors specializing in women’s health could help make patients feel more comfortable and cared for.
“Abortion issues, and many different women’s issues with their health, are very personal and can also get very emotional.”
As of Sept. 1, the waiting list for a family doctor tops 56,000.
This comes days after The Globe and Mail’s Atlantic bureau chief published an account of her experience hitting multiple roadblocks while trying to get an abortion in Nova Scotia, before eventually flying to Toronto for the procedure.
Zann said hearing stories like hers highlights the need for faster access to abortion services, especially since the nature of the procedure is so time-sensitive.
“This is not okay in this day and age for a modern public,” she said.
“Women in particular need to be treated with tender, loving care, especially when it comes to these issues around their body.”