The New Brunswick government says it has announced it has repealed the section of Regulation 84-20 that prohibited Medicare from paying for abortions outside of hospitals.
Premier Susan Holt made this promise during the campaign and committed to implementing it quickly once in power.
“Our government committed to moving quickly on several files, including removing barriers to accessing abortion services,” said Premier Susan Holt in a release. “While we recognize that this alone cannot immediately create more access to abortion, it is an important first step.”
Previous governments failed to make changes to allow surgical abortions outside of hospitals including both Blaine Higgs’ Progressive Conservatives and Brian Gallant’s Liberal government.
Abortion access in New Brunswick has been restricted to hospitals – including particular hospitals. Both medication-based and surgical abortions are only available in Moncton and Bathurst.
Medication abortions are available in Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton at some community health centres. A medication abortion can be performed up to 10 or 11 weeks, while a surgical abortion can be performed up to 14 weeks.
It can cost between $400 to $3,000 to access an abortion without Medicare.
Clinic 544 – which was a multi-service family practice in Fredericton that offered surgical abortions out of hospital – was forced to close as a result of the restrictions in 84-20. It closed in January 2024.
While it said it couldn’t afford rent due to the province not funding out-of-hospital abortions, the clinic did perform pro-bono abortions for those who couldn’t afford it.
The federal government has clawed back federal health transfers due to the New Brunswick government limiting access.
There are currently only three places in New Brunswick to access a surgical abortion.
“As a next step, the Department of Health will work with stakeholders, such as the New Brunswick Medical Society and the regional health authorities, to establish how these services will be delivered in the community.”
Access to those abortions will be part of the community care clinics planned to be established in various communities across New Brunswick.
It is a positive step for advocates, according to the release.
“The Regroupement féministe du Nouveau-Brunswick would like to thank Premier Susan Holt and her team for their important gesture, which will have profound impacts on reproductive justice in New Brunswick,” said Andrée-Anne LeBlanc, the executive director. “For 17 years, our organization has been advocating for access to abortion and proudly highlights this first step to make surgical abortion more accessible throughout our province.”
Health Minister Dr. John Dornan said in the release this is a step toward securing access for anyone who needs the service, no matter where they live.
The government said it will work with the New Brunswick Medical Society and the regional health authorities to broad access across the province.
Surgical abortions are currently available at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre, the Moncton Hospital, and the Chaleur Regional Hospital. Most abortions performed in the province are not surgical but are through medication.
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