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House Hansard - 281

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 13, 2024 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 281 - Feb/13/24
Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, Lib.)
  • Feb/13/24 2:00:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, the only clinic offering surgical abortions in New Brunswick closed its doors. Clinic 554 was the only place to access the procedure in the capital region, as well as the only place offering gender-affirming health care. Patients seeking abortions are now forced to drive to hospitals in Moncton or Bathurst. Not everyone has the luxury of time or transportation to travel cross-province. This creates disproportionate barriers for the most vulnerable people in our communities to accessing the essential care they need. The right to reproductive choice is legally protected for all Canadians, but the Government of New Brunswick refuses to cover clinic-based abortions by medicare. Clinic 554 was also one of the few places where trans and gender-diverse New Brunswickers were able to access the information and health care they need. They now have nowhere left to turn. This is unacceptable, especially since Fredericton is one of the most gender-diverse communities in Canada. Premier Higgs has demonstrated blatant disregard for trans and gender-diverse New Brunswickers, and now he has succeeded in removing their lifeline to gender-affirming care. This is unacceptable. I am calling on the provincial government to take the necessary steps to protect reproductive choice and ensure everyone in New Brunswick has the health care they need.
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Context: House Hansard - 281 - Feb/13/24
Mrs. Jenica Atwin
  • Feb/13/24 3:14:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties— Some hon. members: No.
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Context: House Hansard - 281 - Feb/13/24
Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, Lib.)
  • Feb/13/24 3:26:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the member whether he could speak more specifically to the work of the special committee and how important it was for us to be non-partisan in approach. Medical assistance in dying is such an important and deeply personal issue. It was really the work of the committee that helped us arrive at the decision.
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Context: House Hansard - 281 - Feb/13/24
Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, Lib.)
  • Feb/13/24 3:58:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member is a great speaker in the House. I certainly enjoyed the story about one of my constituents. That was really great, and I agree. I am an advocate for mental health access. Actually, I did vote against the previous bill as well in the previous Parliament. I really want to highlight that it is so important to create the clear distinction between suicidal ideation, what happens when someone is dealing with depression and wants to take their life, and medical assistance in dying. It is really important to have that distinction made. I wonder if the member could comment on that.
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