Fredericton’s Clinic 554 gets visit from Deputy PM, who pledges more pressure on province
Six weeks after she crossed the floor, Fredericton member of parliament Jenica Atwin welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister on a tour of her riding – which began with a visit to Clinic 554.
The family practice has been at the centre of a years-long battle on abortion access in New Brunswick. The clinic’s doctor, Adrian Edgar, has focused his practice on the LGBTQ population and reproductive healthcare.
That includes abortions – a service not funded in N.B. if it happens outside a hospital.
The service is covered by Medicare at three hospitals –the Moncton Hospital, Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital and the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst.
In the days leading up to the last federal election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to sit down with the Blaine Higgs government on the issue.
“We will ensure that the New Brunswick government allows access, paid for access, to clinics that offer abortion services outside of hospitals,” he said during a stop in Fredericton on Oct. 15, 2019.
On Friday, Dr. Edgar said he felt optimistic after meeting with Atwin and Chrystia Freeland.
“There was just a lot of brainstorming,” he said. “We really spent quite a long time thinking about how we can get New Brunswick to be on par with the rest of the country.”
Freeland alluded to having more to say in the future on the issue – but mentioned that Ottawa has taken action, by withholding of a portion of N.B.’s health transfer payment last year.
“The claw back is significant, and we mean what we say about that,” she said. “We’re going to have more to say specifically in the next couple days.”
Premier Blaine Higgs said he’s checked with Horizon Health Authority, and says the Network told him the service is well covered by the three hospitals – but are willing to revisit should that change.
“Let’s not continue to make this a political football,” Higgs said. “Let’s base it on the facts and the facts are that the Horizon Health Network are very prepared to have further discussions to meet the needs if indeed there’s a need required.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Canada Post’s newest stamp features special cookies for Islamic holiday
Canada Post’s newest specialty stamps feature “melt-in-your-mouth” desserts to mark two Islamic festivals, the crown corporation announced Thursday.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Statistics Canada reports real GDP up 0.6 per cent in January as Quebec strikes end
Canada's real gross domestic product grew 0.6 per cent in January, helped by the end of public sector strikes in Quebec in November and December, Statistics Canada said Thursday.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.