National Day for Abortion Access and Reproductive Justice - October 20

TORONTO, Oct. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC) and the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics (OCAC) are holding a rally in Toronto on Saturday as part of a Pan-Canadian Day of Action calling on governments to improve access to abortion and reproductive health services.

"We are taking the initiative by calling on governments across the country to improve access to abortion and other reproductive services, and to make it clear that the pro-choice majority is opposed to further restrictions on this basic health service," said Carolyn Egan, spokesperson for OCAC and ARCC.

WHAT: Rally for Reproductive Justice and Equal Access

WHEN: Saturday, October 20, 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Old City Hall, 60 Queen Street West, Toronto

Conservative members of the Ontario Legislature are calling for abortion services to be defunded. Women in Prince Edward Island have no abortion services at all, and women in New Brunswick are forced to pay out-of-pocket for clinic procedures. Conservative MPs are putting forward private members bills to put more barriers in place.

"We are joining with women in Prince Edward Island, Vancouver, Whitehorse, Winnipeg, Saskatoon and other areas of the country who are standing up to politicians who want to roll back the clock on women's rights," said Ms. Egan.

"Services must be improved and expanded. Making abortion illegal, unavailable or inaccessible only drives it underground, as global figures show, with over 40,000 deaths occurring yearly."

Speakers include Olivia Chow, MP for Trinity-Spadina; Sarah Jayne King, Chairperson, Canadian Federation of Students; Sunny Clifford, star of "Young Lakota," a film on the abortion struggle on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota; Shannon Devine, Canadian Auto Workers; Carolyn Egan, OCAC; and others.

SOURCE: Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics (OCAC)

Carolyn Egan, 416-806-7985.