Holt promises greater access to abortion, expresses concern over immigration cuts

Premier-elect Susan Holt has repeated her promise to make abortions more widely available in New Brunswick.

“Abortion is health care and people in New Brunswick need better access to abortion,” she said during a news conference in Fredericton today with all 30 members of the newly elected Liberal caucus standing behind her.

In their campaign platform, the Liberals promised to amend Regulation 84-20 that says abortions can’t be covered by Medicare unless they’re performed in an approved hospital.

At present, only three hospitals provide surgical abortions, two in Moncton and one in Bathurst.

The regulation restricting access means that women must pay for abortions themselves if they’re performed in clinics outside those hospitals.

“There are places that are ready to deliver those services and people who are ready to deliver those services,” Holt said, “if this amendment to 84-20 is made that allows them to be paid under the current Medicare system.”

In February, Clinic 554 in Fredericton closed its doors saying it could no longer afford to provide abortions to women who couldn’t pay for them.

It was the only clinic in the province that provided surgical abortions outside of hospitals.

At today’s news conference, which was broadcast on the party’s YouTube channel, Holt did not give more detail beyond promising wider access.

Green Deputy Leader Megan Mitton promised during the election campaign her party would set up women’s health centres that would provide abortion services.

She suggested they could be established first in Saint John and Fredericton with an eventual goal of having them available in every part of the province.

In 2021, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association filed a formal lawsuit against the New Brunswick government for restricting access to abortion calling Regulation 80-20 unconstitutional.

Federal immigration reductions

When asked about federal plans to restrict the number of permanent residents Canada accepts along with reductions in temporary foreign workers and international students, Holt said she was very concerned.

“Newcomers have contributed greatly to our province,” she said, “particularly in health care. I don’t think there’s a long-term care facility in New Brunswick that would be open today if it weren’t for the newcomers that have come to help care for seniors in New Brunswick.”

She added that immigrants with construction skills are badly needed here to help build housing.

“So, we need to be really thoughtful and careful about how we manage immigration in New Brunswick,” she said.

Holt added that she’s heard from university and community college presidents that federal cuts to the number of international students mean fewer choices for New Brunswick students.

“As we diminish the number of [international] students, they’re having to cut classes off their roster and cut educators from their system and that has a long-term economic impact,” Holt said.

Action soon on key promises

The premier-elect said her new government will be sworn in on November 2 and then get to work on keeping key promises the Liberals made during the election campaign.

She mentioned removing the 10 per cent provincial sales tax on electricity,  implementation of a 3 per cent cap on rents, elimination of the 4-cent-per litre gas tax that the Higgs government imposed and retention bonuses for nurses of $10,000 this year, with an additional $5,000 in 2025.

“I know it’s early,” one reporter asked, “but has your transition team or you heard anything in any meetings yet about any unpleasant surprises that are waiting for you?”

“Not yet,” Holt replied.

“I say not yet because we all think they’re coming,” she said laughing heartily.

Bruce Wark worked in broadcasting and journalism education for more than 35 years. He was at CBC Radio for nearly 20 years as senior editor of network programs such as The World at Six and World Report. He currently writes for The New Wark Times, where a version of this story first appeared on June 20, 2024.