“There are significant gaps in the coverage and types of contraception offered under provincial programs.” – St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens
St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens
St. Catharines, ON – As we recognize World Contraception Day on September 26th, Jennie Stevens, NDP MPP for St. Catharines, is renewing her priority of continuing to advocate for free contraception at the provincial level.
This is in light of the upcoming federal government’s non-confidence vote and federal Conservatives’ plan to scrap the developing pharmacare program. This would jeopardize the progress made toward reproductive justice for women and gender-diverse Canadians in the form of barrier-free contraception.
Last March, Stevens tabled a motion in the legislature, opening up OHIP coverage to all forms of prescription contraception.
The motion, initially supported in late 2023, was ultimately shut down by the Ford government earlier this year, citing existing contraception coverage through the OHIP+ program and the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan.
“Existing provincial plans only cover Ontarians up to the age of 25 who aren’t already on a private insurance plan, and after that, young adults are on their own. There are significant gaps in the coverage and types of contraception offered under provincial programs,” said Stevens. “We’re so close to being able to provide accessible reproductive resources to Ontarians. We can’t go backwards, and World Contraception Day is a critical reminder of that.”
With the potential for a federal election in the coming months, Stevens calls on the provincial and federal governments to work together and remain firm on their commitment to bringing comprehensive coverage to Ontarians, as laid out in the Pharmacare Act.
QUOTES
Quest Community Health Centre – “Quest Community Health Centre endorses removing cost barriers to contraception for individuals, promoting equality, public health and economic stability. Policy reform and community support are key to making contraceptive access and choice a reality for equity-deserving populations,” says Nancy Garner, Executive Director of Quest CHC. “We know that marginalized communities often face additional barriers, and addressing these disparities is crucial for equity in reproductive health. This initiative aligns well with the Community Health Centre’s focus on removing barriers to care and addressing the social determinants of health.”
Niagara Regional Sexual Assault Centre – “The Niagara Sexual Assault Centre stands with Jennie Stevens, MPP and her call on all Canadian politicians to ensure that women and gender-diverse individuals have access to free contraceptives. The current gaps in coverage for far too many remind us of the inequities in our system. As patient advocates after sexual assaults, we witness how crucial barrier-free access to contraceptives can be. For survivors, pregnancy is often one of the biggest fears after an assault. The Pharmacare Act will aid Canadian women in having true freedom of choice over their reproductive health and provide survivors of sexual violence at least some agency over their own body.”
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