Women’s strike in Fredericton marks overturning of Roe v. Wade decision – NB Media Co-op

On Monday, activists in Fredericton took part in a march from City Hall to the Legislative Assembly as part of a national women’s strike. The event marked the second anniversary of the overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision in the United States. Demonstrations have been organized across Canada to show solidarity with Americans seeking to regain autonomy over their bodies.

“We are here to represent the rights of women and men because we all have a right to our own bodies and our own form of expression,” said Shelley Petit, chair of the NB Coalition of Persons with Disabilities, which organized the event.

Petit is passionate about the issue because many women with disabilities face systemic discrimination, including biased assumptions about their ability to raise children.

She expressed frustration with the lack of support services in the province, particularly in child care. “Once the baby is born, it is not seen as worthy of help,” she said. New Brunswickers struggle to access both abortion services and adequate child care support, leaving many feeling unsupported and unsure of their options.

Petit expressed her concerns about conservative governments gaining more control over people’s bodies and rights. “Conservative governments around the world and in this country are going too far. And it does not go unnoticed that it is men who make the rules,” she noted.

Petit called on people to participate in the upcoming provincial election to drive change, saying: “Things have to change and the way we can make the biggest changes is at the ballot box.”

Nicki Lyons-MacFarlane, the NDP candidate for Fredericton South-Silverwood, spoke about the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, describing it as “a setback of 50 years of hard-won progress and rights.”

Lyons-MacFarlane also pointed out that in New Brunswick, Rule 84-20 of the NB Medical Services Payment Act restricts provincial funding of out-of-hospital surgical abortions, meaning that out-of-hospital abortions in private clinics are not covered by the province.

They expressed concern about the impact of this rule, saying it limits people’s access to basic reproductive health care. Lyons-MacFarlane stressed that the New Brunswick NDP is committed to repealing Rule 84-20 and allowing out-of-hospital surgical abortions.

Lyons-MacFarlane also addressed the closure of Clinic 554, saying it has made it difficult for New Brunswickers to access gender affirming care. They stressed that access to gender affirming care is essential for all trans and gender diverse people. “Gender reassignment allows people to freely express who they are and increase their confidence about their lifespan. Access to gender affirming care saves lives, the consequences of losing it can be devastating,” they said.

Glenna Hanley, another NDP member, shared her personal experience as a single mother who faced discrimination after an unwanted pregnancy. She described the difficulties she faced as an unmarried woman with a child, including prejudice and unwanted attention due to societal stereotypes, as well as difficulties in finding work and housing. “It was one challenge after another,” she mused.

Hanley urged New Brunswickers to be more informed about local politics. He said, “We need to watch our government, we need to watch what’s happening in New Brunswick. Far-right governments certainly don’t have women’s interests in mind.”

Simon Ouellette, Green candidate for Fredericton South-Silverwood, also spoke at the event. He stressed that the issue of limited access to abortion services is not a problem for the Conservative government.

“The fact that we can only perform abortions in three hospitals is not just a Democrat issue. It is also a Democrat issue,” he said, highlighting the pattern of constant alternation of conservative and liberal governments that fail to truly commit to improving people’s lives.

A small group of counter-protesters carrying anti-choice signs joined the event and attempted to disrupt the speeches. In response, Ouellette invited the counter-protesters to join him in the fight for better social services, stressing the need for adequate resources and support for women and all members of the working class.

“When someone decides whether to keep a child, it should not be because they have no money, because they have no home, because they do not earn well or because they do not have rights. It is their decision. It is as simple as that,” he said.

Ouellette stressed that our rights were hard-won and can all too easily be taken away. She said: “There is not a single right that was given to us as workers, as women, as transgender people, as Black people or as Indigenous people. People fought for them and we must fight to keep them.”

According to Petit, no liberal representative was present, although the party had been invited.

Higgs government response

The provincial government did not respond to a request from NB Media Co-op for an interview with Sherry Wilson, the minister responsible for women’s equality, but provided an emailed statement defending its policy. The closure of Clinic 554 was not addressed in the statement.

“The Government of New Brunswick is working to promote gender equality, reduce systemic discrimination and support initiatives that improve the personal, economic and social security of women,” the statement said.

Due to an agreement with the federal government, “additional places for childcare will be available in the coming months,” the statement said.

“The number of child care places to be created will be based on the number of places available under the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on Early Childhood Education and Child Care, which is 3,400,” the spokesperson said. “To date, 1,825 of these child care places are already open and occupied, and the rest will be created by operators expanding their facilities or building new ones.”

Regarding access to abortion, the statement emphasized the availability of medical abortion outside of hospitals using the Mifegymiso pill and said that “New Brunswick is fully committed to the principles of Canadian Health Act.”

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association filed a lawsuit against the provincial government in 2021, arguing that its restrictions on abortion coverage violate the Canada Health Act and infringe fundamental rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Dora Szemok is a final year student of International Development Studies and Political Science and a research assistant at the Promise of Home project. She is also a member of the Fredericton Young Communist League.