The Beausejour Health Corporation (health authority - as they are known in NS, not NB so excuse me if I get my terms confused) that serves the Francophone population in Moncton - as well as much of northern NB for more serious issues like cancer, etc. - had its annual meeting two nights ago.

It had been "revealed" to the media by the anti choice groups that it was one of the 2 hospitals the govt announced would perform abortions - to quote the Health Minister "medically necessary" abortions - and if that sounds like the law we had in 1969 and pre Supreme Court rulings, I suspect that is what he meant!!

The Board's annual meeting was attended by a very interested public, including Moncton's Roman Catholic Archbishop (and as even my elderly father says, "if he is not in the game, he should have no say" but again I digress). The Chairman indicated there would be NO change in policy and abortions would be performed ONLY in cases where the mother's life is in danger. Again, that sounds like what we had a long time ago when women were forced to go to Mtl or NY (at least when I was younger) to have an abortion which meant one required money and means to do this.

I once wrote a paper on the abortion law at the time and Canada was one of the worst countries - certainly in the so called industrialzied world. (Better than Zanzibar where a woman who has an abortion faces a murder charge and better thn Ireland which banned it altogether). I do not know about Zanzibar but Ireland is no longer a throcracy and abortion is more widely available there than in NB. I use Ireland because it is roughly the same size as NB. Granted, many Irish women slip across the border to Northern Ireland but it is also performed in some hospitals there. As an Irish Catholic, I can tell you there is always an Irish solution to an Irish problem, lol

I have heard of the other hospital and I won't post it here lest some anti-choice group target it.

The groups were not mollified even by the Board's policy. I gather they are thinking of how it was in the past when sometimes a woman's health was deemed a "psychological" issue.

I do think this is all so dark ages though!!!! We talk about North Dakota and its intent but this is not much better!! The women who suffer are not those who can afford to go to the Morgantaler Clinic but those who live in rural NB and in poverty or are teenagers who are afraid to tell their parents. As a social worker in NB, I was constantly faced with pregnant young women who sought financial assistance - and pregnancy was often a way out of an abusive home or conflict. Sometimes the mothers pushed them to seek financial assistance!! (One mom told me once - as I was attempting to keep the yooung woman in school- that an hour on the bus was sooo long, sigh!). So, rural and economically disadvantaged women are really in a bind in that province.

Even Birthright - that anti choice group - would help young women with money from govt!! That always stuck in my craw, were we sbsidizing them and their ads?

University students in Hfx from NB have even had trouble having their abortions paid for when they have them in NS - and under fiscal arrangements I dare not say inbalance!! - and I was involved in protracted negotiations with the NS and NB dept of health on this issue. I finally suggested to the gynecologists I knew to ensure they said the abortion was "medically necessary."

This says to me that women from NB who go to other provinces will still face difficulties. So the federal law is being broken and few - save Dr. Morgantaler and his supporters and a few women's groups (incl the NB Advisory Council on the Status of Women) - are speaking out on it.

I am thinking of rereading Saul Alinky's Rules for Radicals to see what might help. Why is it the anti choice lobby can be so boorish and nasty and get away with it. We need to fight fire with fire - not in the sense of being just like them but using creative protest measures like Ghandi and other non violent organizers. (I once took a course in New England in how to act if you were arrested in a non violent demonstration - in prep for an anti nuclear demonstration and wonder if I might need a refresher course, sigh!)

There is very likely to be an election in NB in the fall so this should be an issue. (Tho women's issues are often left on the back burner). And the NDP is not as strong in NB. That said, there are some legislators in the other two parties who favour changing the policy but they are also partisan and I doubt they would publicly go against their Leaders - both of whom hold the same view.

Anyway, this is the update. I'd appreciate any ideas on how to change tis archaic policy!!

[ 23 June 2006: Message edited by: JaneyCanuck ]