Abortion rights: Maritimers react to overturning of Roe vs. Wade
It's a United States Supreme Court decision that has created headlines and shockwaves around the world, and here in the Maritimes.
Bri Berardinelli is with the group Pro-Choice Cape Breton.
She was among the many who were outraged when the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling, recognizing a woman's right to an abortion, was overturned by the U.S.’s top court on Friday.
"As womb-bearing people, we have that right to have that choice with our bodies," Berardinelli said. "And I find it's just so unfair that it's always these older, rich white men that are making the decisions of what we can do with our bodies when they have no idea what it's even like."
Martha Paynter is a registered nurse who provides abortions. She also helped organize a rally in Halifax on Saturday that protested the decision south of the border.
She says there could be ripple effects here in this country that ought to be prepared for.
"We need to enthusiastically advance our access to abortion and general reproductive health care services," Paynter said. "There very well may be increased demand, we don't really know yet, from U.S. patients."
With abortion and women’s rights issues top of mind these days, Paynter says there's another change here in Canada she'd like to see.
"We have public funding for abortion care, we don't have public funding for contraception," Paynter said. "And that's ridiculous. If we have so-called feminist politicians saying they will stand up for us, we need that. It's a big ticket item, and we want it first."
With the Supreme Court ruling already made in the United States, advocates here say their focus is on making their voices heard.
"If the U.S. sees that there's enough allies even around the world, maybe they'd reconsider the decision that they've made," Berardinelli said. "Because they're already preparing for riots to start breaking out."
However, there are some who see the issue differently, including some Republicans and religious Conservatives.
Back in Cape Breton, Berardinelli said she isn’t aware of any rallies or protests planned in the Sydney area as of yet.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Minister said 'hundreds' of Canadians might use Gaza visa. More than 7,500 applied.
An immigration lawyer in Toronto says new figures from the federal government show just how 'grudging' Ottawa's efforts have been to rescue Canadians' family members from the war in the Gaza Strip.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Florida deputies who fatally shot U.S. airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says
Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday.
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.