Access to Abortion Services Act (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Access to Abortion Services Act
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
Long title An Act to create safe Access zones around facilitate and homes of doctors and service provides providing or facilitating abortion services
Citation	S.N.L. 2016, c. A-1.02
Assented to	December 14, 2016
Legislative history
Bill citation	Bill 43
Introduced by	Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General
First reading	November 15, 2016
Second reading	November 17, 2016
Third reading	November 21, 2016
Status: Current legislation

The Access to Abortion Services Act is an act of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly relating to the legal protection of access to abortion.

Background

The act is modelled on the Access to Abortion Services Act of British Columbia. ^[1]

In 2016, the Athena Health Clinic reached an agreement with two named protesters and "persons unknown" which restricted protested within 40 metres of the clinic. ^[2]

Provisions

The act bans protests within 50 metres of abortion clinics and 160 metres of doctors' homes. ^[3] It also bans protests within 10 metres of doctors' offices and within 160 metres of doctors' homes. ^[4]

Specifically, the act restricts demonstrating, carrying signs or trying to dissuade women from having abortions outside relevant facilities. ^[3]

Reception

The Athena Health Clinic supported the legislation. ^[2]

A representative of Planned Parenthood Newfoundland supported the legislation. ^[5]

References

1. "Anti-abortion protests should be banned outside clinics: Newfoundland justice minister". The Globe and Mail. June 19, 2016. Archived from the original on July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
2. "Agreement reached for protest buffer zone around Newfoundland abortion clinic". CityNews Hailfax. June 29, 2016. Archived from the original on July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
3. Cooke, Ryan (November 17, 2016). "'I don't care about the political fallout:' N.L. justice minister vows to provide better abortion access". CBC News. Archived from the original on June 5, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
4. Whitten, Elizabeth (May 6, 2022). "Abortion is Legal in NL, But Access Remains Restricted". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
5. Newell, David (November 18, 2016). "Planned Parenthood hopeful new legislation will help clients, health care providers". CBC News. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2025.