Being pro-choice means having all of the information that you need to make the best decision for yourself.

When it comes to your sexual and reproductive health, choice is about:

• Being able to decide if and when to have sex
• How you want to protect yourself and your partner from STIs and pregnancy
• And, if you do become pregnant, how you want to deal with that.

It’s really important that you are able to get proper information and have the support to make a decision without being influenced by other people’s opinions or values

Being Pro-Choice in Canada

In Canada, there are no laws banning (prohibiting) abortion. Instead, it is considered to be a private matter between a woman and her healthcare provider. Most abortion providers will perform abortions up to 16 weeks after you become pregnant. A few abortion providers will perform it up to 20 weeks, usually if the fetus would not be able to live after being born, or if the woman would be at risk from continuing the pregnancy (her body could not be pregnant without endangering her own safety). Abortions are provided in hospitals and clinics in all provinces except Prince Edward Island, which doesn’t have any abortion providers. If you live outside of a big city, you might have to travel to a city for an abortion. Wait times can be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on where you live. In most provinces, provincial health insurance covers abortions in both hospitals and clinics, but some provinces only cover abortions in hospitals; however, according to the Canada Health Act they should also fund them in clinics as well.

It may seem like abortion laws where written ages ago. Since 1988, women have been able to access safe and legal abortions in Canada. However, abortion is becoming a hot topic again in politics. There are a number of large groups in Canada that would like to see abortion banned again so that people won’t have abortions. Making abortions illegal does not end women from having abortions, rather it forces women to have illegal, unsafe abortions like they used to before 1988. In other countries where abortion is illegal women have underground, illegal abortions. As a result, in Canada and elsewhere it’s important that people who are pro-choice are heard and stand up for accessible safe medical treatments.

Remember: being pro-choice means that you think that everyone should get to choose the best decision for themselves, and implement that decision safely.

More and more youth are becoming involved in the pro-choice movement in Canada, which is helping to keep the movement alive and strong. If you are interested in finding out more and becoming involved, here are some places to start:

Canadian Youth for Choice (www.cyouthc.ca): Advocates for youth reproductive and sexual health rights. You can become a member, or check out their advocacy toolkit. Operates through the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health.

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (www.arcc-cdac.ca): An online national organization that works to make sure that abortion remains legal in Canada. You can become a member, which lets you join an e-mailing list to find out about what is going on and how to become involved. Their website also includes lots of position statements on all aspects of abortion.

Pro-Choice and the Internet

If you’re looking for abortion information on-line it is sometimes hard to tell the difference between pro-choice and anti-choice websites. Quite a few anti-choice sites try to look pro-choice so that they can spread myths about abortion. Here are a few ways to tell which is which:

An anti-choice site might have graphic pictures of aborted fetuses, or very graphic descriptions of abortions

A pro-choice site give the facts about having an abortion – whether you have to be under anaesthetic, what types of tools or medications are used, and how long you’ll need to be at the clinic or hospital

Anti-choice sites try to use myths to scare people away from having abortions – the most common myth is that abortion causes breast cancer, which is completely untrue and unfactual. If you see a website that states that it is true, it is probably anti-choice

Pro-choice websites will usually give information on all of the pregnancy options (abortion, adoption, and parenting), whereas an anti-choice website won’t provide accurate information on abortion as an option

Toronto Abortion Providers

If you do need an abortion, here are a few places you can go:

Planned Parenthood Toronto (www.ppt.on.ca): provides pregnancy testing, counseling, and referrals for abortions.

Women’s Care Clinic (www.abortiontoronto.com): Abortion services up to 20 weeks, without a referral from a doctor.

Bloor West Village Women’s Clinic (www.bloorwestwomensclinic.com)

Choice in Health Clinic (www.choiceinhealth.ca)

The Morgentaler Clinic (www.morgentaler.ca)

A word of warning: The Crisis Pregnancy Centres (there are many of them) claims they will help you to make a decision about your pregnancy. These centres are anti-abortion, so if you want information on an abortion as one of your options, you should avoid going to one of these centres. Instead, look for a local Planned Parenthood, or try to find an understanding doctor.

For more on pregnancy options, check out our TEEN PREGNANCY OPTIONS page.

For more on protecting yourself from STIs, check out our STI BASICS page.