Abortion Advocates Bank on Canada and G-7
By Rebecca Oas, Ph.D
Center for Family & Human Rights
Center for Family & Human Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. April 6 (C-Fam) A year before the election of President Donald Trump signaled a shift in U.S. foreign policy to a pro-life position, Canada underwent a shift of its own, in the opposite direction. Since Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister, Canada has followed Sweden in declaring a “feminist” foreign policy. Disgruntled by current U.S. policy, abortion advocates have turned north to Canada – and the upcoming G-7 Summit – for leadership and a way forward.
Canada’s pervious prime minister, Stephen Harper, launched the Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in 2010 at the 36th G8 summit. The global health community welcomed the initiative because it pledged $5 billion from G8 countries toward meeting the maternal and child health UN Millennium Development Goals. It also drew both praise and criticism for the fact that it did not include abortion.
Eight years later, as Canada once again prepares to host the G-7 summit, Canada has seen a sea change. When President Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy early last year, Canada pledged $20 million to the European-led “She Decides” campaign launched in direct opposition to the U.S. policy, barring funding to abortion groups. Speaking at a recent conference at McGill University, Canadian international development minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced a further three-year commitment to “improve women’s access to comprehensive sexuality education, contraception, family planning, safe and legal abortions, and post-abortion care.”
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