Trudeau Liberals withholding healthcare transfers to New Brunswick over province’s limits on abortion

Following a vaccine-related press conference at the Moncton Coliseum on Tuesday, the prime minister answered questions from the media. The issue of whether or not he would keep his 2019 promise to fund "out-of-hospital" abortions was brought up by a reporter.

Trudeau reiterated that his government was committed to doing just that, stating that the Liberals will continue "to impress strongly upon the government of New Brunswick how it needs to keep up its obligations under the Canada Health Act. The prime minister went on to say that his government will continue to withhold health transfers from New Brunswick until the province complies.

According to Global News, New Brunswick is the only province in Canada that does not fund abortions outside of hospitals. Clinic 554 in the capital, Fredericton, has been a safe haven for many women seeking reproductive health, but due to lack of funding, they have been forced to reduce their operations.

As Global News reports, Trudeau had originally stated that the federal government was withholding millions of dollars from New Brunswick, however a spokesperson for the prime minister was quick to correct that, putting the figure at $140,216 for this year.

Access to abortion has become a hot-button issue in New Brunswick, as people debate whether out-of-hospital reproductive care should be provided by taxpayers. The Trudeau Liberals have been pushing for more access to such care. Just last week, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland visited Clinic 554 to tour the facility and learn more about the work they're doing.