Prince Edward Island
In the early '80s, the provincial government decided there would be no surgical abortion services in PEI: Those seeking an abortion would have to travel to Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. A legal challenge by Abortion Access Now PEI, supported by the Woman's Legal Education and Action Fund, prompted the government to relent; services became available in 2017. Medical and surgical abortions are now available at Prince County Hospital in Summerside, and medical abortions are offered at Charlottetown's Polyclinic.
New Brunswick
In New Brunswick medical abortions from Mifegymiso are universally covered, but surgical abortions are only covered if they are performed in hospitals. Clinic 554 in Fredericton provides surgical abortions, but patients must pay out of pocket if they receive a surgical abortion, although not for Mifegymiso prescribed in the same clinic.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador announced a universal cost coverage program for Mifegymiso in September 2018, and the cost of surgical abortions has been covered by the province since 1988.
Abortion doulas are on the rise in this province, since Shannon Hardy of Abortion Suport Services Atlantic has been training volunteers to help people seeking abortions navigate the system in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Saskatchewan
In the first week of June, the provincial government of Saskatchewan announced that it will provide universal coverage of the drug Mifegymiso. While Saskatchewan was the last province to pay for the abortion drug, it has been covered by the Saskatchewan Prescription Drug Plan since September 2017, and prescribed by nurse practitioners since October 2018. All abortions in Saskatchewan are done in hospitals.
Manitoba
On June 1, the minister responsible for the status of women, Rochelle Squires, announced that Manitoba will be providing universal coverage of Mifegymiso, making Manitoba the second-to-last province to do so. Mifegymiso has been free of charge since 2017, but only accessible at the two sites that also perform surgical abortions in the province.
Quebec
In Quebec abortions can occur at private clinics, some local community health centres and hospitals, and all services are covered by the province, with Mifegymiso being covered since fall 2017.
Ontario
In August 2017, nurse practitioners from the College of Nurses of Ontario became the first to be able to prescribe Mifegymiso, which has universal coverage as of spring 2017. Abortions are available from both clinics and hospitals. Recently the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that any doctor unwilling to provide abortion services due to their religious beliefs must be able and willing to refer their patient to another doctor. In May, a 21-year-old Ontario MPP said "We pledge to make abortion unthinkable in our lifetime," though Premier Doug Ford responded by saying "The government will not re-open the abortion debate."
British Columbia
The government of British Columbia announced back in January 2018 that universal coverage for Mifegymiso would start January 15, 2018. Since then, Mifegymiso has been available with a prescription from a doctor or a nurse practitioner. Patients can access abortions in clinics or hospitals, though access in rural areas, like in the rest of Canada, is still difficult—as of 2017, 91 percent of abortion providers in BC reside in the three largest urban areas.
Alberta
Mifegymiso is only available at the Kensington Clinic in Calgary or Woman's Health Options in Edmonton. Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer, who has made anti-choice comments, will be running for prime minister in the upcoming federal election. His appointment for education minister, Adriana LaGrange, previously served as the president of Red Deer Pro-Life.
Yukon/NWT/Nunavut
The department of health and social services of the Northwest Territories helps cover travel costs of people in rural communities travelling to Yellowknife or Inuvik to receive abortion services. Mifegymiso has been covered by the territory since November 2018. In the Yukon, only first-trimester abortions are available, but the provincial government will cover expenses of travelling to BC or Alberta. In Nunavut, hospital abortions are covered by the territorial health plan.
