The Manitoba government is introducing legislation that would establish protected access zones outside clinics and facilities that provide abortion services and at service providers’ residences and offices.
In a media release Thursday, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said “Abortion is health care. Manitobans have the right to safe and accessible health care. Whether you’re accessing reproductive care, recovering from a procedure or providing critical health care to Manitobans, this new legislation would make sure your safety and privacy is protected.”
The safe access to abortion services act would prohibit protests, demonstrations or picketing within buffer zones to protect patients and providers against harassment and intimidation, noted Fontaine.
The proposed legislation would require safety perimeters around clinics whose primary purpose is to provide abortion services. Other facilities that provide surgical or medical abortion services such as hospitals, pharmacies, doctors’ offices and health-care facilities would have the option of requesting a buffer zone be established around their sites.
The legislation would also support access to abortion by protecting physicians and pharmacists who provide access to Mifegymiso, a non-surgical option for early abortion. In addition, people who work in clinics would be protected at home under the new law.
Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara said “Health-care professionals who provide reproductive care sometimes do so in the face of harassment, intimidation or even violence, and that is simply unacceptable. These new protections will help make sure that health-care professionals and their families are safe both at work and at home.”
The ministers noted that although federal legislation recently came into force that criminalizes the intimidation or obstruction of health-care workers and patients, it does not establish safe buffer zones or prohibit other forms of interference such as recording, attempting to influence or inform, or other acts of disapproval.
British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia have provincial legislation that establishes abortion protest buffer zones.
