Access to Abortion Services Act (Newfoundland and Labrador)

The Access to Abortion Services Act is an act of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly relating to the legal protection of access to abortion.

Access to Abortion Services Act
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
Long title An Act to create safe Access zones around facilitate and homes of doctors and service provides providing or facilitating abortion services
Citation	S.N.L. 2016, c. A-1.02
Assented to	December 14, 2016
Legislative history
Bill citation	Bill 43
Introduced by	Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General
First reading	November 15, 2016
Second reading	November 17, 2016
Third reading	November 21, 2016
Status: Current legislation

Background

The act is modelled on the Access to Abortion Services Act of British Columbia.^[1]

In 2016, the Athena Health Clinic reached an agreement with two named protesters and "persons unknown" which restricted protested within 40 metres of the clinic.^[2]

Provisions

The act bans protests within 50 metres of abortion clinics and 160 metres of doctors' homes.^[3] It also bans protests within 10 metres of doctors' offices and within 160 metres of doctors' homes.^[4]

Specifically, the act restricts demonstrating, carrying signs or trying to dissuade women from having abortions outside relevant facilities.^[3]

Reception

The Athena Health Clinic supported the legislation.^[2]

A representative of Planned Parenthood Newfoundland supported the legislation.^[5]