Pro-choice rally in Toronto

October 20 was a Pan-Canadian Day of Action to defend women’s right to
choose abortion, and to oppose efforts by Conservative and Liberal
politicians at all levels to erode or eliminate this right. Earlier this
month MPs defeated by a two to one margin an anti-abortion Conservative
private member’s bill, which was nonetheless supported by over 100 MPs.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Harper government refuses to implement the
Canada Health Act which guarantee’s equal access. Women in Prince
Edward Island province have no access to abortion, and women in New
Brunswick have to pay for clinic abortions.

The Toronto rally, organized by the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada
and the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics, demanded reproductive
health care for all, including refugees who the government has just
deprived of this benefit.

Two New Democratic Party MPs addressed the rally, including Olivia Chow
(Trinity-Spadina), along with a representative of the Toronto and York
Region Labour Council, a spokesperson for an aboriginal women’s
organization, youth activists and veteran abortion rights campaigners. Other groups including Socialist Action actively supported the event.