Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long (Image: Danielle McCreadie)
Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long says the provincial government is in the wrong for refusing to fund out-of-hospital abortions in New Brunswick.
Clinic 554, the healthcare clinic which specializes in LGBTQ+ care and is the only place to access out-of-hospital abortions in the province is set to close later this week.
Many residents have been protesting the new government on the Legislature grounds ahead of the clinic’s closure.
Long says Blaine Higgs’ government’s refusal to fund the clinic is a disservice to his constituents.
“The fact that we’re even discussing this is a travesty,” Long said. “The fact that in this day and age, in 2020, we need to fight to save a clinic that provides much-needed services to southern New Brunswick is terrible.”
The MP says he is working with other members of the federal government to find a way to help the clinic remain open, though nothing concrete has yet come from the discussions.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised the clinic would be funded if he were to earn re-election in 2019. The federal government also threatened to withhold portions of this year’s healthcare transfer payments for the amount Clinic 554 was requesting for its abortion services.
They ultimately reversed course on that decision due to the COVID-19 pandemic providing urgent need for healthcare funding.
Long says he is working with other MPs to ensure the federal government follows through on withholding a portion of next year’s transfer payment.
“Our government agrees with us: come next March we will be withholding money to enforce what we see as a violation of the Canada Health Act,” said Long.
Ultimately, the Saint John-Rothesay MP blames Higgs for the clinic’s closure.
“It’s ideological, I think it’s unfair, and I think it’s short-sighted to not provide funding for this much-needed public clinic.”
