Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures in Canada. However, even in a country with relatively progressive reproductive health policies, persisting barriers often make it difficult and sometimes impossible to access. For example, over 18% of women in Canada, primarily Indigenous women, travelled over 100km to have an abortion, and only one in six Canadian hospitals provide abortion services.
This doesn’t account for barriers created by stigmas, financial status, or even a lack of trained providers. A 2018 study found that 43% of medical residents surveyed in Canada had not received formal education in abortion care. Ultimately, this leaves many women without the ability to take action on their right to reproductive choice.
