Safe Access to Abortion Services Act (Manitoba)

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Safe Access to Abortion Services Act
Parliamentwinnipeg manitoba.jpg
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
CitationC.C.S.M. 2024, c. S4, SM 2024, c. 5
Assented toJune 4, 2024
Legislative history
Bill citationBill 8
Introduced by Nahanni Fontaine MLA, Minister of Families
First reading March 7, 2024
Second reading March 20, 2024
Third reading June 3, 2024
Status: Current legislation

The Safe Access to Abortion Services Act (French : Loi sur l'accès sécuritaire aux services d'interruption volontaire de grossesse) is an act of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba relating to the legal protection of access to abortion.

Contents

Background

In 2018, the New Democratic Party MLA, Nahanni Fontaine, introduced a private member's bill to establish buffer zones around abortion clinics. [1] The Progressive Conservative Premier Brian Pallister described the legislation as a threat to free speech. [2]

In 2024, the Manitoba government announced plans to create buffer zones of 50 metres to 150 metres around related health facilities and staff homes. [3]

Provisions

The legislation establishes a buffer zone of at least 50 metres, around facilities whose main purpose is to provoide abortions, which can later be extended by the government up to 150 metres. [4]

Reception

In 2024, the provincial Progressive Conservative Party criticized the legislation for targeting anti-abortion protests, and suggested that the legislation should ban all protest including picket lines. [5]

References

  1. ↑ Froese, Ian (November 22, 2018). "NDP introduces bill to create no-protest zones around Manitoba abortion providers". CBC News. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  2. ↑ Kusch, Larry (November 23, 2018). "Abortion clinic 'buffer zones' a free-speech issue: premier". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  3. ↑ Lambert, Steve (March 7, 2024). "Manitoba plans buffer zones to restrict protests near abortion clinics". The Globe and Mail . Archived from the original on July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Law barring protests, demonstrations around Manitoba abortion clinics coming into effect". CBC News. January 31, 2025. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Manitoba PCs say bill banning anti-abortion protests near clinics should be expanded". CBC News. March 20, 2024. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
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