Hundreds of Islanders demonstrated Saturday at Province House in Charlottetown, some rallying for abortion to be made available on P.E.I., others supporting a pro-life message.
Despite being polar opposites in both opinions and demonstrations, the two groups did not directly confront one another. Instead, they focused on publicizing their messages.
About 150 people supporting the pro-choice P.E.I. Reproductive Rights Organization (PRRO) rallied and cheered boisterously for speakers who addressed the crowd.
They called on the provincial government to change its policies and allow abortion services to be made available on P.E.I.
“We are not assembled here today to debate the morality that clouds the issue of abortion… we are here today to demand that right as our own,” PRRO member Kandace Hagan told the crowd.
“It’s time for local access to abortion services on Prince Edward Island,” Lisa Murphy of the P.E.I. Advisory Council on the Status of Women said, eliciting cheers from supporters.
Meanwhile, about 200 pro-lifers stood silently by, armed with their own signs, some of which depicted babies and fetuses.
They did not cheer or jeer. Their silent protest was meant to bring into the public conversation their belief abortion is morally wrong and should stay out of P.E.I.
“We’re here to say abortion is not OK,” said Greg Herbert, president of the P.E.I. Right to Life Association.
“Abortion ends the life of a developing human being, abortion hurts women, it causes irreparable harm to women… many women have emotional and psychological scars from the abortion and many women have physical difficulties,” said Ann Marie Tomlins.
Prince Edward Island is the only province in Canada that does not provide any abortion services. The procedure is not done in Island hospitals and there are no private clinics that offer the service in the province. Government does pay for off-Island hospital abortions, but only with a doctor referral.
Earlier this month, Health Minister Doug Currie said he had no plans to change the current provincial policies on abortion services.
But after weeks of local and national media shining a spotlight on the fact this health service is not offered in the province, Currie’s stance appears to has softened.
He said Friday he is willing to listen to both sides of the issue before deciding whether to make any changes.
On Saturday, both sides voiced their opinions.
Many of the pro-life protesters The Guardian spoke with cited religious beliefs as a major reason motivating them to fight against changes to P.E.I.’s abortion policies.
Alan Burke held a sign that read ‘end of days’ at the demonstration.
“It’s a spiritual and a moral matter and the people that here are sincere,” he said.
“The people who are pro-abortion are sincere too, but they’re sincerely wrong.”
Those who supported the lobby for access to abortion said they see this as a woman’s right to choose and a legal health service unavailable to Island women.
“Abortion is a legal right for women to have and the other side of the spectrum, it’s sort of too late for them. This has already been decided by the Supreme Court of Canada,” said Catherine Miller.
“It’s a legal right and our health care should provide it and it should be accessible for Island women.”
Green Party Leader Sharon Labchuk and NDP Leader James Rodd were among those who spoke in support of changes to the current policies.
The PRRO has requested a meeting with Currie to discuss its lobby for changes. On Saturday the P.E.I. Right to Life Association said it plans to also request a meeting with the minister.
You can't see a difference between abortion and Sunday shopping? When was the last time someone needed counciling because they spent one day not shopping? I think this is the point when things get silly.