Canada will ensure border officers know Americans can journey for abortion: Mendicino – National

Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino says he might be talking with the Canada Border Companies Company to make sure its staff know Americans in search of abortions can come to Canada for care.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Mendicino said individuals within the U.S. could also be feeling doubt about whether or not they'll be able to entry abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, as a leaked draft ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court steered earlier this week is imminent.

NEW: Minister @marcomendicino says he’s speaking with @CanBorder to verify there are clear guidelines so People who could not be able to entry an abortion can come to Canada to take action. Says means to take action isn’t in question but he wants to make sure things are clear. pic.twitter.com/qEqVQuUKJT

— Abigail Bimman (@AbigailBimman) May 4, 2022

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Mendicino mentioned the ability of People to come back to Canada for abortions just isn't in question, however he wants to make sure that position is clear to those engaged on the frontlines on the border.

“I’ve engaged CBSA, my office is currently working with them to make sure there are clear guidelines so that women who could not have the ability to access healthcare together with abortions are capable of come to Canada,” he mentioned.

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

Mendicino billed the move as a “measure of caution” in the occasion Roe v. Wade is overturned and described the hope as being to “eradicate any ambiguity” that border officials could have as as to whether someone travelling to Canada for an abortion is eligible to enter the country.

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What's unclear at the moment is whether or not any info on those individuals can be shared with American legislation enforcement or state officials trying to prosecute folks for travelling for an abortion, as some consultants have urged could possibly be subsequent if Roe v. Wade falls.

Canada and the U.S. have in depth cross-border data sharing agreements designed to make it easier to flag people who may pose a risk to nationwide security, or who are violating immigration rules.

Alexander Cohen, director of communications for Mendicino’s workplace, mentioned the government doesn't share common data regarding the aim of travel for Americans coming to Canada, “and that would come with those who come to Canada for reproductive well being purposes.”

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Could Canada grow to be an abortion 'secure haven'?

In the context of abortion rights, jurisdictions that present entry to those outdoors their borders are also known as “protected havens.”

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States like California have vowed to enshrine abortion entry extra strongly in their laws in the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft ruling on Roe v. Wade, while specialists are additionally raising the chance that for Individuals near the Canadian border, this nation might develop into their nearest safe haven.

Learn more: Roe v. Wade draft ruling places U.S. abortion rights in crosshairs. Right here’s what to know

“I think the massive challenges for Canadians are going to be ongoing entry to abortion if Canada turns into a safe haven of People,” mentioned Dr. Dustin Costescu, an associate professor at McMaster University as well as a family planning and sexual health specialist.

Costescu mentioned all the data out there right now suggests there'll remain abortion entry in a variety of states along the Eastern Seaboard if Roe v. Wade falls, including New York.

That might imply Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes could not see a “significant” level of spillover.

“Michigan, alternatively, becomes a little bit of a scorching spot by way of whether abortion is accessible. As we transfer 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 nation.’ These are massive distances. But when people have to decide on to go tons of of kilometers south or north [to access abortion], they might come up north.”

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Learn more: How abortion entry differs throughout U.S. — and the way overturning Roe v. Wade could change it

Autumn Reinhardt-Simpson is the founder of the Alberta Abortion Access Community, and works as what’s referred to as an abortion doula. That means her job helps individuals who want abortions entry them.

The assist she and other abortion doulas offer consists of assist arranging travel, pickup and drop-off at sexual health clinics or abortion clinics, help arranging lodging if a person has to go away their home neighborhood to get the abortion, assist accessing correct info, in addition to emotional support.

She advised Global Information on Tuesday that assets in lots of components of her province are already stretched.

“Entry in Alberta is better than some places, but nonetheless not great,” she mentioned. “We nonetheless have a hard time getting people in rural areas into the cities for their appointments, particularly because there are so few medical doctors that are but prescribing abortion remedy.”

Reinhardt-Simpson stated an inflow of people coming north might add to those challenges.

“We’re not likely geared up for dealing with Albertans who need abortion care. We can not even present comprehensive health services for girls or trans and non-binary people in our personal province,” she stated.

“So for positive, if people did come up right here in giant numbers, there could be a really massive downside.”

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