On a cool, damp Saturday afternoon, on the front steps of Toronto’s Old City Hall, nearly one hundred people gathered to demand “Reproductive Justice: Equal Access Now!”
October 20 was a Pan-Canadian Day of Action to defend women’s right to choose abortion, and to oppose efforts by Conservative and Liberal politicians at all levels to erode or eliminate this right. Earlier this month MPs defeated by a two to one margin an anti-abortion Conservative private member’s bill, which was nonetheless supported by over 100 MPs. Meanwhile, the Conservative Harper government refuses to implement the Canada Health Act which guarantee’s equal access. Women in Prince Edward Island province have no access to abortion, and women in New Brunswick have to pay for clinic abortions.
The Toronto rally, organized by the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada and the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics, demanded reproductive health care for all, including refugees who the government has just deprived of this benefit.
Two New Democratic Party MPs addressed the rally, including Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina), along with a representative of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, a spokesperson for an aboriginal women’s organization, youth activists and veteran abortion rights campaigners.
Youth for Socialist Action and Socialist Action members actively promoted the event, and participated in the rally with prominent banners, leaflet distribution and successful press sales.
