The Survival of Abortion Access in Canada

The topic of abortion is fraught with intense debate across all people, especially in North America. With the recent Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, abortion access is under renewed attack in the United States. Canada has made an identity for itself in its persistent defense of the right to terminate a pregnancy, one of the stronger stances against its historically overbearing neighbor. The R. v. Morgentaler ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1988 decriminalized abortion and established a standard for the defense of reproductive rights. Later legal disputes and judgments have strengthened Canada's pro-choice position. However, there is a more malicious and complex history in both countries on this issue, and the future is beginning to look just as unstable. This paper aims to highlight the evolving attitudes and ominous impact of the changes in the United States for Canadian women in regards to their reproductive rights. Through a thorough comparison of the historic, political, and cultural ideas of both countries, I will present how the right to an abortion in Canada is being undermined and threatened by continued influence of the US.