'Abortion is health care, it’s a human right': Local abortion activist
A local abortion and reproductive justice activist is devastated by Friday’s news that the U.S. Supreme Court has ended the nation's constitutional protections for abortion.
In an interview with CTV News London, Robyn Schwarz, who has a masters in Canadian/American relations and is working towards her PHD in Canadian History at Western University, said she’s not surprised by the decision that had been in place for nearly 50 years.
“This news means that some people are not going to get their abortion’s today and that’s really going to be hard on them,” said Schwartz. “And so, that’s where my head is at is really with folks who are pregnant in the United States, in places where abortion is being attacked. And thinking about experience and how hard this is going to be on them.”
Schwarz, who is also the co-founder of Pro-Choice Southwestern Ontario, says even though abortion is legal here in Canada, it’s not always accessible and there are people on this side of the border protesting to end abortion outside our hospitals.
“We have people here who can’t access abortions when they need them, so we need to be working on changing that and making it a much safer, more accessible process for people in terms of how does it look when you get an abortion and why is it so difficult in Canada and why are there so few pro-choice non-profits?”
She added that there is not enough support and funding for this type of work in Canada.
“Often times, we locally, the doulas are helping folks get to London and get that support. I know there are lots of people like me, throughout the United States who have been ready for this, they are going to do everything they can,” said Schwarz
Schwarz is also a volunteer with Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights and says that organization is doing important work.
“Abortion is health care, it’s a human right, and the fact that the United States has chosen to go down this path, should be something that folks who are pro-human rights, should be looking at from around the world, with horror today,” she concluded.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
How do you navigate the social media minefield with your kids?
Growing fears about social media's harm have sparked lawsuits against social media companies from hundreds of school districts in the United States and now Canada. CTVNews.ca wants to know whether your children are addicted to social media or if you have concerns about their usage of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and X.