Safe Access to Abortion Services Act (Manitoba)
| Safe Access to Abortion Services Act | |
|---|---|
| Legislative Assembly of Manitoba | |
| Citation | C.C.S.M. 2024, c. S4, SM 2024, c. 5 |
| Assented to | June 4, 2024 |
| Legislative history | |
| Bill title | Protecting a Woman's Right to Access Abortion Services Act |
| Bill citation | Bill 8 |
| Introduced by | Yasir Naqvi, Attorney General of Ontario |
| First reading | March 7, 2024 |
| Second reading | March 20, 2024 |
| Third reading | June 3, 2024 |
| Status: Current legislation | |
The Safe Access to Abortion Services Act (French: Loi sur l'accès sécuritaire aux services d'interruption volontaire de grossesse) is an act of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba relating to the legal protection of access to abortion.
Background
[edit]In 2018, the New Democratic Party MLA, Nahanni Fontaine, introduced a private member's bill to establish buffer zones around abortion clinics.[1] The Progressive Conservative Premier Brian Pallister described the legislation as a threat to free speech.[2]
In 2024, the Manitoba government announced plans to create buffer zones of 50 metres to 150 metres around related health facilities and staff homes.[3]
Provisions
[edit]The legislation establishes a buffer zone of at least 50 metres, around facilities whose main purpose is to provoide abortions, which can later be extended by the government up to 150 metres.[4]
Reception
[edit]In 2024, the provincial Progressive Conservative Party criticized the legislation for targeting anti-abortion protests, and suggested that the legislation should ban all protest including picket lines.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Froese, Ian (November 22, 2018). "NDP introduces bill to create no-protest zones around Manitoba abortion providers". CBC News. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ Kusch, Larry (November 23, 2018). "Abortion clinic 'buffer zones' a free-speech issue: premier". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ Lambert, Steve (March 7, 2024). "Manitoba plans buffer zones to restrict protests near abortion clinics". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ "Law barring protests, demonstrations around Manitoba abortion clinics coming into effect". CBC News. January 31, 2025. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ "Manitoba PCs say bill banning anti-abortion protests near clinics should be expanded". CBC News. March 20, 2024. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2025.