Kansas North Loses Another One

Well, imagine that. As we keep saying, abortion access is a human right.

The New Brunswick government has lost a bid to block the Human Rights Commission from investigating the province's abortion policy.

The policy has been a source of controversy for years and is at the centre of an ongoing lawsuit, which was filed by Dr. Henry Morgentaler, Canada's leading abortion activist.

With the Morgentaler lawsuit still in the court system, an unnamed doctor filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on two grounds. The doctor argued that, on behalf of women, the provincial government's restrictions on access to abortion are discriminatory.

As well, the doctor argued the restrictions make it difficult for her to help her patients get a full range of medical services.

The provincial government only pays for an abortion performed in hospitals and a woman must have two doctors certify that it's medically necessary.

By cracky, we'll drag New Brunswick -- kicking and SHRIEEEKING -- into the 20th century yet.

Abortion Access Is a Human Right

I'm surprised no one has thought of this before now.

The New Brunswick Human Rights Commission is holding an inquiry into the province's abortion policy.

Randy Dickinson, chairman of the commission, confirmed Tuesday that the human rights organization received a complaint relating to New Brunswick's Medical Services Payment Act, which sets out the conditions under which the province will pay for abortions.

The provincial Department of Health's policy stipulates that it will only pay for an abortion if a woman gets a referral from a family doctor and if the procedure is performed in a hospital.

"That issue has been brought forward as a complaint," Dickinson said.

After an initial investigation into the complaint, he said, the commission has determined "there is sufficient evidence to send it to an official board of inquiry."

Dickinson declined to comment on the specific details of the complaint.

The situation in New Brunswick is scandalous, not to mention in blatant contravention of the Canada Health Act. And so far, only Dr Henry Morgentaler has been fighting back.

Abortion is legal in Canada. Access is a matter for a human rights commission.

And Canada is a strongly pro-choice country. For yet further proof of that, go to this CBC story and order the comments by most agreed. Here's the first one:

New Brunswick has to enter the 21st Century instead of remaining in the 19th.

About freaking time.

And yet. . .

. . . this wanker has no problem with the rest of us paying for his martyr-gasm.

An anti-abortion crusader in New Brunswick has been sentenced to 66 days in jail for refusing to pay fines stemming from a 2007 conviction for failing to file his tax returns.

David Little said in provincial court Thursday that he will never file another tax return as long as there is tax-funded abortion in Canada, and won't pay the $3,000 in fines for failing to file returns for 2000, 2001, and 2002.

(snip)

The 66-year-old Roman Catholic, who is married and has eight children, said he is willing to spend the rest of his life behind bars if necessary.

"I don't want to co-operate with an entity that takes my money and pays gynecological assassins to kill my brothers and sisters," he said in an interview prior to sentencing.

"I'm prepared to die in jail, if necessary. I can no longer cope with the hypocrisy of praying for life ... and paying for death."

(snip)

Little had a number of supporters in court, including Bishop Faber MacDonald, the bishop emeritus for Saint John diocese.

MacDonald said outside court that he expects the jail sentence will result in more supporters for Little's cause.

"I think after a few days, after people read this story, it would be very easy to motivate them to action," he said.

When asked if he thought other Catholics should refuse to file their taxes in protest of abortion, MacDonald replied: "Yes."

MacDonald, though, acknowledged he has filed his own return.

Oooo. Colour me gob-smacked. Catlick hypocrisy. Again.

Me, I'm thinking about not paying my taxes to protest wankers like this getting his rox off on my correctional services dime.