Ontario Liberals vow to protect access to abortion, expand women’s health services

TORONTO — The news that Roe v. Wade will be struck down by the United States Supreme Court has sent a shockwave across Canada. It should have been a moment for leaders in Ontario to stand in solidarity with women across the country, and recommit to protecting a woman’s right to choose to have an aboriton. But while other political leaders have stepped up, the only thing Doug Ford defends are the hardline views of the anti-abortion activists in his party who want to make “abortion unthinkable in our lifetimes.

Ontario Liberals have released a new ad that outlines the clear choice for women in Ontario. The ad underscores Doug Ford’s record of undermining the progress for women, while giving a a platform for anti-abortion activists to legitimize their hard-right beliefs. 

Over the last four years under Doug Ford, progress for women has stopped in Ontario, as social conservatives have found a home in his party and government. This devastating news from the United States will embolden these same elements within Doug Ford’s Conservative party to push to restrict women’s rights. We can’t allow that to happen.

An elected Ontario Liberal government will push for the progress that has stalled under the Ford Conservatives. Liberals will provide free menstrual products at all schools, libraries, community centres, transit stations and health services. Liberals proposed Ontario Women’s Health Strategy would make the health system more responsive to women’s health needs, including maintaining publicly funded abortion services and reproductive health programs and expanding access to fertility treatments, early pregnancy loss, perinatal mental health services and the Ontario Fertility Program. Finally, Liberals will establish and enforce protest exclusion zones around health care buildings to protect patients and staff.

When defending anti-choice activists who seek to take away women’s rights, Ford Conservatives say that their party is a ‘big-tent. Well maybe it’s time to make their tent a bit smaller, boot these hardline, anti-choice, anti-women activists from the PC party and give some reassurance to women across the province. Until then, Ontario voters have a choice with an Ontario Liberal Party that will always defend women and fight for progress.