Women Ill Served on P.E.I.

"I still think you'll find the majority pro-life. This is a very life-giving province. You'll find the majority of people on Prince Edward Island, we love life and we love people." Ann Marie Tomlins, past president, P.E.I. Right to Life Association.

No one can give guarantees, unfortunately, that an unwanted child will have the right given it to be raised with love and support and emotional and practical nurturing. It is not, needless to say, only 'right-to-life' advocates that love life and people. Nor do those who advocate for abortion rights not believe in the right to life. They believe also, however, that a woman should be able to control all her body functions.

Abortion is an unfortunate fact of life. And so is the neglect and abuse of children. Every child should experience a happy, secure childhood, loved and cherished. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. And those who feel it is their right to decide when and whether they will give birth to a child should want to become a responsible parent before they commit to bringing a child into the world.

By making this a political issue entirely, the government of P.E.I. is refusing to meet the needs of a segment of their population. A segment which surely is worthy of the same kind of thoughtful consideration as those who tie in with the 'right-to-life' group. As matters stand no hospital on the island will perform therapeutic abortions because the province restricts funding to its hospitals for abortions.

The island's pro-choice activists have gained the support of the provincial NDP and Green parties, and they are capable of lobbying the provincial government on behalf of these constituents, but without seats in the legislature their support is nice, but largely ineffective. The provincial Liberals and Conservatives have too much to lose at the polls to give the issue support.

To be considered for provincial re-payment of costs, a woman must have multiple physician referrals, must be prepared to travel out of the province and because referrals are hard to come by and the costs associated with travel are beyond some women, this has caused some of them to attempt to produce their own miscarriage. Through self-injury, off-label prescription drugs, alcohol abuse.

"Abortion is a complex and sensitive issue that was broadly debated and litigated on Prince Edward Island in the mid-1990s. We have no plans to change the current policy or programming. To me, it's not about the political discussion, it's more about another service. And the more services you add to the health-care system, obviously there's going to be more cost to that. P.E.I. Health Minister Doug Currie

Pity, that.