at times, the cost of travelling is so expensive that the women are out of options for ways to get home after the procedure, pelletier said.
“we’ve had to taxi some women back to their communities.”
in vancouver on saturday, about 40 protesters marched to the u.s. consulate to protest the texas law: “what lowers abortion rates? contraception,” “keep your laws away from my uterus,” read their signs.
protester melissa swinamer said she “had to make the life-changing decision” to get a surgical abortion in her youth but “although it wasn’t easy, it was the right choice.” living in red deer in 2009, finding out she was 11 weeks pregnant was unexpected, she said.
“having that child would have tethered me to my abuser,” the 33-year-old said about her decision to drive more than an hour to calgary for the procedure. her cousin was by her side.
“the clinic staff were respectful. they made sure i was aware of all of my options before the procedure and i listened to the heartbeat before my decision.”
it was a similar story for fortin, who utilized the health care service to terminate a pregnancy that would have entangled her in an unhealthy relationship, she said.
“the procedure saved my life,” said fortin, now in her 50s. “i fear that having a child would have kept me under that man’s control.”