Partly inspired by U.S. politics, Quebec Solidaire pitches free access to all contraception
Saying it wants to further strengthen women's ability to decide "if and when they want children," Québec Solidaire is proposing a program that would create free access to all forms of contraception.
The party says it would like to include "all hormonal contraception" in public RAMQ coverage.
It would also like to facilitate the distribution of barrier methods, such as condoms.
"Pill, condom, IUD, diaphragm… whatever the method, a supportive government will make contraception free in Quebec," the party later added in a tweet.
In a press release, party co-spokesperson Manon Massé said she was worried about the recent setbacks in access to abortion in the United States.
The best reaction, she argued, is to "keep moving forward to allow women to be in full control of their lives."
The Solidaire co-spokesperson said she fears that economic constraints deprive people of access to contraception, and that the recent significant increase in the cost of living is accentuating this risk for many low-income women.
Québec Solidaire says it's inspired by a recommendation from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, which sees free contraception as a way to reduce the cost of health care related to unwanted pregnancies.
In Quebec, that overall bill -- the amount needed in relation to unwanted pregnancies -- adds up to several tens of millions of dollars per year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 23, 2022, with files from CTV News.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.