Canadian Minister says abortion access would ‘certainly be provided’ for Americans if Roe v. Wade is overturned

A Canadian minister has confirmed that if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned by the Supreme Court, Americans would still have access to abortions across the border. 

In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday, Karina Gould, who is the Canadian minister of families, children, and social development, said that access to abortions would continue to be available in her country to US citizens.

“I don’t see why we would not,” Gould said, per the outlet. “If they, people, come here and need access, certainly, you know, that’s a service that would be provided.”

A federal government official told Narcity that “Americans accessing health care services in Canada, including abortion services, would continue to have to pay for the service out-of-pocket or by their own private insurance.”

That payment is required if Americans aren’t covered by provincial health insurance, the Interim Federal Health Program or the Non-Insured Health Benefits.

Gould also noted that there are concerns about the potential of Roe v. Wade being overturned and the impact it could have on Canadians. “One of the concerning factors here is that there are many Canadian women who maybe don’t live near a major city in Canada but will often access these services in the United States,” she said.

“I’m very concerned about the leak,” she continued. “I’m very concerned about what this means, particularly for American women, but also for Canadian women.”

Gould re-iterated that the federal government is “committed to upholding” the right to abortion and sexual and reproductive health services in Canada. “What we’re seeing in the United States, we cannot assume that will not happen in Canada because we’re already seeing some of that very activity,” she said, citing people getting harassed outside abortion clinics.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted, “The right to choose is a woman’s right and a woman’s right alone.”

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said Roe v. Wade potentially being overturned is “deeply concerning” and that the right to legal abortion is “dangerously threatened.”