Fredericton, NB, July 4, 2014 – Today, Reproductive Justice NB announced it is engaging in a fundraising effort to lease the existing Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton, which is scheduled to close on July 18th. Restrictive provincial legislation on abortion access has left New Brunswickers in a crisis situation.

The collective is in discussion with the building’s owners to enter into a lease agreement and further explore options to encourage family practitioners who support a person’s right to full reproductive services, including the right to abortion.

“We had to take decisive action as the government is refusing to respond to this critical issue and the clock is ticking,” said Kathleen Pye, Chair of Reproductive Justice NB. “We know securing a lease agreement is a bandaid solution and while it doesn’t automatically mean women will have improved abortion access, it does give people in this province a fighting chance to access their rights under the Charter of Rights and the Canada Health Act.”

Using a fundraising tool called crowd-funding, Reproductive Justice NB plans to raise approximately $100,000 to enter into the lease agreement. Ever since the clinic closure was announced in April, people across Canada have been asking how they can help.

“We recently received a letter in the mail with a $5 bill attached, saying ‘Our clinic cannot close. This is not much, but I hope it will help.’ With restrictive government policy on abortion and no clinic, New Brunswickers know they will be forced to keep pregnancies they don’t want or can’t sustain,” said Pye.

Reproductive Justice NB is a collective of individuals from across New Brunswick dedicated to ensuring publicly funded and self-referred abortion is available in the province. They are demanding the repeal of NB Regulation 84-20, Schedule 2 (a.1) of the Medical Services Payment Act which requires two doctors to sign off that the procedure is “medically required” and that it must be performed in a hospital by an OBGYN. As a result, the people of New Brunswick have unequal access to abortion services as compared to the rest of Canada.

For information on how to donate to the #SaveTheClinic Fund, please visit: https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/aoCmf/tx/63fJr3

To download a Fact Sheet about lack of abortion access in New Brunswick, please visit: rjnb.org/rjnb-fact-sheet/

Further information: reproductivejusticenb@gmail.com