Hon. F. Gigi Osler: Honourable senators, I rise today to share with you that this is Sexual Health and Reproductive Health Week, an annual campaign designed to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health and to promote resources to improve community health in Canada.

Everyone has the fundamental right to control their own bodies, to security and to health. Reproductive rights are fundamental rights, and abortion care is health care.

Lack of access to safe, timely, inclusive and respectful information on sexual and reproductive health is a risk to one’s physical health, mental health and social well-being.

Despite this January marking 35 years since the landmark Morgentaler decision, which secured the right to legal abortion in Canada, access to abortion care remains inequitable. Legal does not mean accessible.

Significant barriers to accessible sexual and reproductive health care still exist, including the exclusion of abortion care services outside of hospitals in some provinces; limited access to timely health services in Northern remote, rural and Indigenous communities; a lack of universal contraceptive coverage; and the rise of mis- and disinformation on various health topics including gender-affirming care.

Health care providers should have more teaching on comprehensive sexual education, reproductive health, contraception and abortion care integrated into their training curriculum. Increased and permanent funding for Canada’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund would support community health organizations such as Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights and the National Abortion Federation. Both organizations run toll-free hotlines and online directories to provide accurate and reliable information on pregnancy options, reproductive health services and stigma-free care.

We need to celebrate these successes and double down on our commitment in Canada to ensure that governments facilitate timely, safe and equitable access to health care for all its citizens.

As a physician and member of the Canadian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, I stand committed to advance work that would close gaps in access to inclusive and respectful sexual and reproductive health care in Canada and around the world.

I welcome others in joining our collective work on this front. Thank you. Meegwetch.

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