A pro-abortion group says it has surpassed its fundraising goal to keep ownership of the Morgentaler Clinic in downtown Fredericton.

Clinic staff stopped performing abortions last month, but Reproductive Justice New Brunswick says it has secured enough money through an online fundraising campaign to keep paying for the building’s lease.

“What we’re hoping to do is get a lease going to give us some time so that we can use that time to find health-care practitioners that are pro-choice, who can come in and start up a more comprehensive health clinic, something more sustainable in the long-term,” says Kathleen Pye of Reproductive Justice New Brunswick.

The group had originally set a fundraising goal of $100,000, but more than $128,000 has been raised so far, and a new goal of $200,000 has now been set.

While the abortion clinic remains closed, an anti-abortion advocacy group continues to operate next door.

Thaddee Renault, a member of the Fredericton chapter of New Brunswick Right to Life, says much of the monetary support is likely coming from abortion advocacy groups outside of the province.

“There’s been 10,000 children aborted in that clinic. Can you think what that means, as far as population conditions?” says Renault. “I think the Women’s Care Centre will be a lot more necessary now because they will be able to come for counselling and the type of counselling that centre gives is very compassionate.”

Meanwhile, supporters of the clinic have set up a new hotline to help those seeking information about abortions.

“It’s the number that was used for the clinic, so people can use the clinic number and it’s 24/7,” says Pye. “It will go to somebody who is non-judgmental, non-biased, will give people information on how to access an abortion within the province.”

By law, a woman in New Brunswick who wants an abortion covered by medicare must have two doctors certify in writing that it is medically necessary and the procedure must be carried out by a specialist in one of two approved hospitals. Now that the clinic is closed, those two hospitals are the only facilities in the province where abortions will be provided.

The Morgentaler Clinic cited losses of about $100,000 over the last decade in its decision to shut down after 20 years, saying it couldn't afford to continue providing abortions that are not publicly funded.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore