Abortion clinic ‘buffer zones’ a free-speech issue: premier

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This article was published 23/11/2018 (2479 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Brian Pallister says an Opposition MLA’s legislative attempt to limit protests near facilities that provide surgical abortions is a threat to free speech.

“We have to be awfully, awfully careful when we take away people’s freedoms and rights. This is the kind of proposal that would do exactly that,” he said Friday, reacting to a bill sponsored by Nahanni Fontaine of the NDP.

On Thursday, the St. Johns MLA introduced Bill 200 (Safe Access to Abortion Services Act), which would establish buffer zones around abortion clinics to protect women from harassment.

“We need to do more to ensure that Manitoba women and girls are not harassed while they’re going to seek medical care,” Fontaine said, adding she’s witnessed protesters “screaming” at women when she has accompanied them to the Women’s Hospital in Winnipeg.

Pallister said while there should be restrictions on the behaviour of protesters, he is opposed to invoking “the hammer of government to stop people from exercising freedoms that we should never take for granted.”

“We have laws to protect people on the streets of our cities and towns and those laws need to be enforced,” he said, “but to invoke this — this is clearly dog whistle politics on the part of (Fontaine).”

The premier was drawn into a debate about the Opposition bill Friday, when Fontaine raised the matter during question period.

Fontaine said later the premier, proved by his reaction, is “missing the whole point” of the proposed legislation.

“It’s not about restricting people’s freedom of speech in any way, shape or form,” she said.

“I’m fond of a good protest. I’ve been doing them for 20 years. I understand the need and the role of protests in society,” she said. “This is fundamentally about protecting Manitoba women and girls’ right to access our health-care system, which includes accessing abortion. It is as simple as that.

“It is about the targeted attempt at intimidating, bullying and shaming Manitoba women and girls going into any facility accessing abortion services.”

— with files from Jessica Botelho-Urbanski

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca