The Ontario NDP expects Doug Ford’s government to support a motion to cover contraception under OHIP.
The motion, first introduced on International Women’s Day in March, is expected to cover oral hormones, contraceptive injections, intrauterine devices (IUDs) containing copper and hormones, subcutaneous implants, and Plan B. .
“There is no doubt that lowering barriers to contraception could have a significant impact on family planning and people’s ability to control their bodies,” NDP Leader Marit Stiles told reporters Thursday. There’s no room for that.”
“It’s been around for a long time and it’s common knowledge.”
Free contraception was a key part of the NDP’s 2022 election platform. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) currently covers contraception for individuals under the age of 25 unless covered by a private plan.
Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Programs beneficiaries may also be eligible for free contraception.
“This is not just a health issue, this is a gender equality issue,” said MP Jenny Stevens, who introduced the motion.
Advocates at Queen’s Park on Thursday said that eliminating women from having to pay hundreds of dollars a year for contraception would provide more protection for victims of sexual violence and give women more autonomy over their reproductive health. He said it would be a new step towards gender equality. .
“In abusive relationships, violence often escalates during pregnancy,” said Krista McNeil, executive director of Durham Regional Victim Services.
“The Cost of Unintended Pregnancy in Canada” [is] It exceeded $320 million. In contrast, inexpensive contraception is a fraction of that cost, and women’s lives are worth this investment. ”
In April, British Columbia became the first province in Canada to offer free prescription contraception, spending $119 million over the next three years.
About 166,000 people in the state benefited from the program between April 1 and September 30, according to data released earlier this month.
Manitoba also announced in its King’s Speech this week that it would move forward with free contraception.
While the NDP couldn’t put a price tag on the proposal, it says B.C.’s bill has already resulted in tens of millions of dollars in savings compared to the cost of the program.
A spokesperson for Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones did not commit to supporting the request for free contraceptives, but said the minister looked forward to meeting with Stevens to consider the motion. Ta.
“Our government supports access to free, publicly funded contraceptives for more than six million Ontarians through the Ontario Pharmaceutical Benefits Program and OHIP+.”
The motion, which is largely symbolic and does not change the law, is expected to be debated next week.
