NDP calling for expansion of reproductive rights

By Lethbridge Herald on November 14, 2024.

Sarah Hoffman, NDP Shadow Minister of Health, along side Julia Hayter, Shadow Minister for Status of Women, and Dr. Jillian Demontigny talks to reporters on Thursday at the YMCA Lethbridge. Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – apulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Alberta NDP is calling on the provincial government to expand reproductive health services in regional hospitals including access to surgical abortions. 

Sarah Hoffman, Alberta NDP Shadow Minister of Health, was in Lethbridge Thursday and spoke to media about a motion she had put forward on the order paper for the Alberta Legislature and the provincial government. 

“To expand the full range of women’s health services to all regional hospitals. You shouldn’t have to leave the region that you live in to be able to access basic Women’s Health services,” said Hoffman. 

She explained that those living outside of Calgary or Edmonton often have to travel great distances to access certain healthcare services. She said Albertans should not have to travel further than they would if they had any other major health episode. 

“This is really about making sure that half the people of this province don’t have to hit the highway and travel to Edmonton and Calgary for legal, fully inclusive women’s reproductive health services,” said Hoffman. 

She said the Alberta NDP is aware of the medical shortage and they want to make sure that the obstetricians who do come to Lethbridge can offer the full range of their scope and want to stay long term. 

“We should make sure that everyone in our regions of the province can access the services they need close to home,” said Hoffman. 

Hoffman was joined by Dr. Jillian Demontigny, a family physician who offers medical abortions in her practice to women and gender diverse patients in Lethbridge. 

“We know from the number of referrals that we receive every month that while medical abortion is more accessible now than it had been years ago, it still remains difficult to access and with not enough supply to meet the necessary demand,” said Demontigny.

She added that they have also seen an increase in patients who would prefer or would be better served with a surgical termination, who instead choose to have a medical abortion here with her because the distance to travel and the time required to get to Calgary is an insurmountable barrier. 

“For that reason, I was excited when the shadow Minister of Health asked if I would come to today’s announcement, because I very much think that anywhere that is able to offer prenatal care and other reproductive healthcare services, we have an obligation and responsibility to also be able to provide both medical and surgical abortions,” said Demontigny. 

She explained that the lack of access to having a surgical abortion doesn’t in fact make people choose not to have an abortion. 

“It instead forces them to opt for the more accessible option, which in some cases is a riskier option so I’m glad if we can bring it closer to home,” said Demontigny. 

She explained that there is no access to surgical abortions here in Lethbridge and if people choose that option or it is what is best for them, they would have to travel to Calgary where there are two places where a surgical abortion can be performed. 

“There is two surgical facilities in Calgary. One which is a private free-standing clinic and the other one is within a hospital,” said Demontigny. 

When talking about the fact that many may not agree with abortions and therefore disagree with providing that as a healthcare option, Hoffman said the government, regardless of who is in power,  should not be telling Albertans what services to access. 

“The government’s job isn’t to judge people who are accessing health care services. It isn’t to insert themselves between patients and their doctors as we’ve seen with some of the legislation they’ve brought forward this session between parents and children and their doctors,” said Hoffman. 

She said the government should not be telling doctors what they can or cannot prescribe or telling patients that they should figure out a way to wait a few more years or travel a little further to be able to get things that they are legally entitled to. 

“I believe that our job as shadow ministers and government in waiting is to tell the government good ideas. And one of the good ideas we have is to make sure that everyone gets the right care in the right place by the right provider,” said Hoffman. 

Hoffman was also joined by Julia Hayter, Alberta NDP Shadow Minister for Status of Women, who brought forward a motion in the legislature urging the UCP government to provide Albertans with universal access to free prescription contraceptives and was shut down. 

“The UCP unanimously voted my motion down. Providing Albertans with free access to prescription contraception gives them control over their lives and their futures,” said Hayter. 

She added that it empowers people to be able to make the best decisions for their health instead of basing those decisions on what is in their bank accounts. 

“We shouldn’t have our bank accounts dictate what we have access to. Prescription contraception protects the health and the well-being of many Albertans, yet so many Albertans must treat this essential health care as a luxury item,” said Hayter. 

She said contraception is a good health policy, a good economic policy and the right thing to do. 

“Last year, B.C. became the very first jurisdiction in Canada to introduce universal free prescription contraception and on Oct. 1, Manitoba launched the same program. Albertans also deserve access to this vital healthcare,” said Hayter.