Manitoba refuses to fund abortions at clinic

The new owners of the Morgentaler abortion clinic in Winnipeg continue to be as frustrated as the clinic's founder in their attempts to get the Manitoba government to pay for abortions performed there.

Figure. Morgantaler sold the clinic in the hope of obtaining government funding. Photo by: Canapress

The board of directors of Jane's Clinic Inc., a non-profit entity representing 18 women, purchased Dr. Henry Morgentaler's facility April 1. So far Manitoba has shown little interest in paying for the estimated 800 abortions a year performed at the clinic, despite what the new owners believe is a growing demand.

“If the government is doing such a wonderful job of meeting the needs of Manitoba women, why would we have seen 84 women this month alone,” said Heather Dawson, a clinic nurse and co-owner. Women pay about $450 for the procedure at the clinic.

Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau said there is capacity in the Winnipeg and Brandon hospitals to handle the abortion needs of Manitoba women. The province pays for procedures performed at 2 hospitals.

Rondeau denied that the Manitoba government is philosophically opposed to contracting with Jane's Clinic. He said more than a dozen different organizations, including Jane's Clinic, are negotiating with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to revamp women's health services.

Rondeau said his government is studying a plan to establish a $1-million “super clinic” for women, which would include abortion services. No timing has been announced.

“Jane's clinic isn't necessarily going to be part of the solution, no,” Rondeau said.

When the NDP government came into power in 1999, Morgentaler offered to donate his clinic to the province if the government paid for all abortions. However, negotiations between the province and Morgentaler broke down in late 2002, with each side accusing the other of bad faith.

Morgantaler sold the business in the “hope that by … removing myself entirely from the picture, the government will see its way clear to do what is right: fully fund procedures at the new Jane's Clinic.”

The clinic has been an option for Manitoba women who can't get a government-funded abortion before their 16th week of pregnancy. In 2003, several women complained they were forced to visit the Morgentaler clinic and pay the fee because of waiting lists that would have taken them beyond 16 weeks. — Dan Lett, Winnipeg