Clinic 554 in Fredericton. (Image: Facebook)
A lawsuit against the New Brunswick government over abortion access in the province is moving ahead.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) has been granted public-interest standing to pursue its constitutional challenge.
New Brunswick Court of Queen’s Bench Chief Justice Tracey DeWare issued her ruling on the matter Tuesday.
“The court’s decision not only recognizes CCLA’s status to bring forward the claim, but also explicitly states that the government’s position opposing it was surprising and unreasonable,” Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, CCLA’s equality program director, said in a news release.
The association wants the courts to repeal provincial legislation that prevents Medicare from covering out-of-hospital abortions.
Currently, abortion services are only covered at three hospitals in the province: two in Moncton and one in Bathurst.
Mendelsohn Aviv said that means 90 per cent of New Brunswickers do not have abortion access in their own community.
“This restriction on abortion access is always harmful to those who are marginalized, who cannot find or afford a private alternative, or who cannot travel to get an abortion due to work, financial resources, childcare needs, or domestic violence,” said Mendelsohn Aviv.
“It’s never too late to do the right thing. The government could make reproductive rights available to all women, girls and trans individuals across the province.”
Mendelsohn Aviv has said they are confident the court challenge will be successful.
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