Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: Blog: Miscellaneous

  • Blog: The Divide – Cities for Cars Cities for People 

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    By Luis Alejandro Murcia Jiménez

     

    Throughout history, people have used many different types of transportation to move through and between towns and cities. From using the most basic methods, like walking or biking, to complex types of machinery, like cars and trains. The transportation method of choice has changed over time, but for a lot of our history, it was designed with walkability in mind. Our cities were made on a human scale, like old European neighborhoods. In the 1960s, many countries, especially here in North America, took a car-centric stance when designing their expanding cities. When cities are designed for cars and not people, the city tends to quickly expand outwards and spreads out to accommodate the space that cars need, like wide roads, parking lots, and driveways. This is called urban sprawl and it makes the city unwelcoming to those who do not travel in cars.  

    Urban Sprawl 

    Suburbs are an example of city design fueled by a car-centric society. Suburbs are built to separate homes away from everything else in the city. This might not seem like an issue if you live close to the city’s core, however, the further the city expands the more evident problems become. Living further from grocery stores, retailers, doctor’s offices, or anything else you need, means driving becomes a requirement. This creates barriers to access and social inclusion.  

    Living far from any destination also leads to boring commutes with little to no change in the visual environment. This creates mental fatigue (1), where commutes become so routine in our brains that people drive on autopilot without paying attention to their surroundings (2). Adding extra pressures to the brain like following a GPS, eating, talking, etc., the risk for human error rises. The combination of mental fatigue and poor city and road design (stroads) means that over 60% of accidents occur while the driver is distracted. (3) 

    Stroads 

    One of the biggest issues that urban sprawl and car dependency create in North American cities is what non-profit media advocacy organization Strong Towns calls, “stroads”. (4) Stroads are a mix between a road (which is a high-speed connecting route with wide lanes) and a street (which is a place with many locations for people to interact with businesses and/or residences). Examples of stroads in Edmonton are 124th Street, 111th Ave, and 170st Street, one example can be seen here. Unfortunately, a stroad does poorly at being either a street or a road. It does not allow for fast travel between locations, since you are always stopping at stoplights or waiting for someone to turn into a parking lot, and it is more dangerous for people heading into businesses or residences. It becomes an unsafe space by creating many points of conflict between modes of transportation (ie: cars and cars, cars and bikes, cars and pedestrians, etc.).  

    Stroads not only make roadways unsafe physically, but they also remove the social aspect from the streets. Multiple lanes of traffic and vast amounts of parking are unappealing and uninviting for people to use for leisure. This hinders people’s ability to create new connections. (5) Humans are social creatures, and the lack of social interactions is a concern to our mental health. (6)   

    What can be done? 

    While North America currently remains heavily dependent on cars, some other countries, such as the Netherlands, have noticed the safety problems and other issues that car-centric cities bring and have returned the space to the people, creating a livable environment (7).  The standard in Dutch cities is to create spaces that are inviting, charming, quieter, accessible, and safe. The city is designed for pedestrians, cyclists, people with disabilities, and others – not solely cars. When the cities make people feel connected and welcome, the people tend to be happier living there. (8)  

    In the Netherlands, good road and street design helps drivers and pedestrians with the previously mentioned issues drivers experience in cities filled with suburbs and stroads. Dutch roundabouts, continuous sidewalks, roadways that are designed to make drivers travel the speed limit and avoid speeding, and the concept of autoluw, or pedestrian only areas, are just some of the many ways the Netherlands makes safer, more livable environments and socially inclusive. 

    Continuous Sidewalks 

    A continuous sidewalk keeps going at a level that has no breaks or inclines. When vehicles turn onto a street, they must do a sharp turn and go over the sidewalk like a speedbump. (9) In addition to slowing down vehicles, continuous sidewalks demonstrate that this space is primarily for people, not cars. They are an inclusive part of city infrastructure because people with low mobility and disabilities can walk without uneven pathways and big steps up onto curbs and sidewalks. (10) Another benefit to continuous sidewalks would come during Edmonton’s harsh winters – the slopes where the sidewalk meets the road become very slippery adding to a lack of safety for pedestrians, and a continuous level sidewalk means people no longer risk slipping and falling into roadways.  

    AutoLuw 

    There are many options that both Canada and the City of Edmonton can pursue to improve walkability and livability in the interest of creating a safe social environment. A straightforward solution is creating “almost car-free” zones. Unfortunately, in the past when such proposals have been made there has often been great opposition to the change – mostly from people who fear that losing car space will mean fewer people can access the area. In the Netherlands, there are places known as “AutoLuw,” (11) which are more effective regarding safety in densely populated and highly visited areas with lots of businesses, like downtown. 

    Stroget, a shopping area in Copenhagen, Denmark, experienced resistance in the 1960s (12). Many shop owners, traffic engineers, and public transportation groups expressed concerns and fears about the consequences of converting the area into a pedestrian-only shopping area. Most of the fears were for loss of business profits from a reduction in customers in the area. In the end, Stroget’s transformation to a pedestrian area was a success in both urban and commercial aspects and businesses saw an increase in customers. The area became more friendly to people and saw an increase in people who were passing by, choosing to stay and visit the businesses in the area. It is important to acknowledge that such strategies are not a one size fits all solution for many areas. It requires a strong foundation of population density and viable access to car-free locations. If city planners have cars in mind and expect people to drive to these locations, then the plan has already failed.  

    Edmonton is currently working on multiple projects (13) to change our current car-centric situation by exploring improvements in our active transportation system in multiple locations. (14) The focus of these projects is people that “walk, bike, and wheel”. The city is also piloting a pedestrian- and bike-only corridor downtown, like the autoluw concept previously mentioned for one year. (15) 102 Ave will remain closed for motor vehicles next to the new Valley LRT.  

    Vehicles have shaped our cities extensively in unsustainable and pedestrian inaccessible ways. They have created an unsafe social environment and have pushed us far from each other.  Fortunately, there are many options for our cities to take to bring back people to the streets and create a safe livable Edmonton.   

     

    References 

    [1] Ma, J., Gu, J., Jia, H., Yao, Z., and Chang, R. (2018). The relationship between drivers’ cognitive fatigue and speed variability during monotonous daytime driving. Front. Psychol. 9:459. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00459      

    [2] Safety Driven. (2021, March 2). Distracted driving and your brain.  Safety Driven: Trucking Safety Council of BC. https://safetydriven.ca/resource/distracted-driving-and-your-brain/ 

    [3] Dingus, T. A., Guo, F., Lee, S., Antin, J. F., Perez, M., Buchanan-King, M., & Hankey, J. (2016). Driver crash risk factors and prevalence evaluation using naturalistic driving data. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(10), 2636–2641. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1513271113  

    [4] Towns, S. (2021, May 24). What’s a STROAD and why does it matter? Strong Towns. https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2018/3/1/whats-a-stroad-and-why-does-it-matter  

    [5] Back, M. D., Schmukle, S. C., & Egloff, B. (2008). Becoming friends by chance. Psychological Science, 19(5), 439–440. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02106.x  

    [6] Yen, I. H., & Syme, S. L. (1999). The social environment and health: A discussion of the epidemiologic literature. Annual Review of Public Health, 20(1), 287–308. 

    [7] Hembrow, D. (2011, January 10). Stop the child murder. A View from the Cycle Path. http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2011/01/stop-child-murder.html   

    [8] Seveno, V. (2022, March 24). The Netherlands once again one of the happiest countries in the world. IamExpat. https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/netherlands-once-again-one-happiest-countries-world#:%7E:text=The%20Netherlands%20as%20the%20world’s%20fifth%20happiest%20country&text=This%20year%20sees%20the%20country,their%20lives%20were%20in%20balance 

    [9] Weetman, R. (2020, May 10). Design details 1. Nicer Cities, Liveable Places. https://robertweetman.wordpress.com/2018/11/13/design-details-1/  

    [10] Gagnon, F. (2017, April 5). Raised crosswalks and continuous sidewalks: “Pedestrian priority” – Briefing note – For up-to-date knowledge relating to healthy public policy. Policy Commons. https://policycommons.net/artifacts/1933480/raised-crosswalks-and-continuous-sidewalks/2685251/   

    [11] Hembrow, D. (2013, February 13). “Nearly car free” areas. A View from the Cycle path. http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2013/02/nearly-car-free-areas.html  

    [12] Yassin, H. H. (2019). Livable city: An approach to pedestrianization through tactical urbanism. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 58(1), 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2019.02.005  

    [13] City of Edmonton. (n.d.). City-run projects & plans. https://www.edmonton.ca/projects-plans  

    [14] City of Edmonton (2022, June). Active Transportation Network Improvements. https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/roads/active-transportation-network-improvements-project  

    [15] Mertz, E. (2022, June 14). Edmonton will keep 102 Avenue closed to traffic for 1-year pedestrian pilot. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/8916732/edmonton-downtown-102-avenue-closure-pedestrian-corridor/  

     

     

     

    Luis Murcia’s goal and passion is the pursuit of knowledge for the betterment of society. In 2013, he came to the University of Alberta from El Salvador and graduated with a BA in psychology and a minor in philosophy. He is striving to develop into a person that can help others become their best self. 

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  • Blog: Roe v. Wade and the disproportionate implications for Black women in the United States

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    By Jenna Robinson 

     

    The recent overruling of Roe v. Wade by the United States Supreme Court presents serious challenges for folks in need of abortions and for reproductive rights in general. It is critical that conversations and discussions remain inclusive as this decision not only affects women, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community may experience extensive harm as a result of this ruling.  

    There are important distinctions in abortion and healthcare access among women and marginalized groups. Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous (Native American) Peoples will be disproportionately affected by this overruling which was decided predominantly by white people. This blog post will analyze the devastating effect it will have on Black women in the United States.  

    When exploring issues such as this, it is important to amplify and prioritize Black voices. The writer of this blog post is a white settler residing in Amiskwaciy Waskahikan (Edmonton) and references primarily Black voices. When researching this topic on your own, we encourage you to center marginalized voices. 

    This blog post is the third installment of a series that discusses what the overruling of Roe v. Wade means, who will be disproportionately impacted, and what abortion and reproductive access is like in Alberta. To read the first two blog posts, click here.  

    Poverty and Healthcare Access among Black Women  

    Experiences of poverty originate from and are reinforced by experiences of racism, sexism, and other systemic inequalities. Black women are disproportionately affected by poverty in the United States (National Partnership for Women and Families, 2018). In 2013, 25.7% of Black women over the age of 18 reported living below the poverty line, causing this population to have the second highest poverty rate among racial and ethnic groups in the country (Status of Women in the States, n.d.). Indigenous (Native American) women were ranked highest, with 28.1% of women over the age of 18 living below the poverty line. Black women on average make 63 cents for every dollar a white man makes in the United States (National Partnership for Women and Families, 2018). The correlation between wage and experiences of poverty among Black women (in addition to many other barriers) affects the money and resources they can dedicate to childcare, food, and healthcare (National Partnership for Women and Families, 2018). 

    Black women and other marginalized populations generally receive a lower quality of care from healthcare institutions due to systemic and institutionalized racism. This directly impacts their health and morbidity rates. “Black women are three to four times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than white women” (National Partnership for Women and Families, 2018). Health conditions such as preeclampsia, eclampsia, abruptio placentae, placenta previa, and postpartum hemorrhage account for 26% of pregnancy related mortality in the United States (Tucker, Berg, Callaghan & Hsai, 2007). While white women experience similar rates of pregnancy related health conditions, Black women are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from them. There is a clear discrepancy in access to, and treatment within, healthcare systems for Black women. 

    Due to the systemic and institutionalized barriers, abortion rates for Black women have been and will continue to be affected.  Roughly 40% of women who access abortions in the United States are Black and they account for the highest percentage of people who access safe abortions (Lenzen, 2022). As a result, they will be among the most affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade.  

    Implications of Roe v. Wade for Black Women 

    The overturning of Roe v. Wade will exacerbate the systemic barriers that influence healthcare access, particularly the access to safe abortion. Maya Richard-Craven (2022) states that the “[lack] of access to a safe abortion is another means of control in a long list of ways that Black women have been suppressed.”  

    Since individual states now have the authority to ban abortion, and many have already started, people will have to travel out of state to areas where abortion is still legal and safe, assuming they have the means to do so. However, the higher and disproportionate rates of poverty among Black women will reinforce systemic barriers and create an even greater lack of access due to having less financial and emotional support that can be used towards travel for a safe abortion. This does not mean abortions will stop in states who ban abortion, it means safe abortions will stop.  Those in need of an abortion, who cannot afford to travel, may turn to dangerous, life-threatening alternatives. Legalizing abortion and making it accessible allows those seeking to terminate a pregnancy, an option that promotes their safety and wellbeing.  

    Many of those who support the overturning of Roe v. Wade argue that they value all human life and that they do not want anyone dying. A common response made by pro-choice advocates is that this ruling is simply another tool used to control bodies. Intersectional scholars and critics are expanding on this conversation to better encapsulate what is actually occurring; Dr. Melina Abdullah, the cofounder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, argues that this overruling is “a pro-poverty agenda, a racist agenda, a sexist, patriarchal and misogynistic agenda, a control agenda – an agenda that feeds the criminal system of injustice” (Richard-Craven, 2022). This decision has implications beyond abortion and causes threats to other Supreme Court rulings that impact marginalized communities. Rulings such as Griswold v. Connecticut, Lawrence v. Texas, and Obergefell v. Hodges, legalized same-sex marriage and relationships, as well as contraception. In short, analyzing Roe v. Wade through an intersectional lens helps identify the devastating impacts and unique experiences it has on many marginalized communities in society.  

    We encourage you to continue the conversation and to engage in materials to help guide these discussions. Please see some of the resources listed below.  

    Resources by Black Authors  

    Roe v. Wade’s Impact on the LGBTQIA2S+ Community  

     

    References 

    Status of Women in the States. (n.d.). “Poverty and Opportunity Full Section”. https://statusofwomendata.org/explore-the-data/poverty-opportunity/poverty-and-opportunity-full-section/#pofig4.4.   

    National Partnership for Women and Families. (2018). “Black Women’s Maternal Health: A Multifaceted Approach to Addressing Persistent and Dire Health Disparities”. https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/health/reports/black-womens-maternal-health.html.    

    Tucker, M. J. & Berg, C. J. & Callaghan, W. M. & Hsia, J. (2007). The Black-White Disparity in Pregnancy-Related Mortality From 5 Conditions: Differences in Prevalence and Case-Fatality Rates. American Jounral of Public Health, 97:2 (247-251).   

    Lenzen, C. (June, 2022). “Facing higher teen pregnancy and maternal mortality rates, Black women will largely bear the brunt of abortion limits”. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/30/texas-abortion-black-women/.   

    Craven-Richard, M. (July 2, 2022). “Roe v. Wade Has Higher Stakes for Black Women”. The Magazine fo the Sierra Club.  https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/roe-v-wade-has-higher-stakes-for-black-women  

     

     

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  • Blog: The Impacts of the Overturning of Roe v. Wade on Individuals Experiencing Poverty

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    By Mariska Konnik

     

    On June 24th, 2022, the United States Supreme Court ruled to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that provided constitutional access to abortion across America for nearly 50 years. This landmark decision will limit the access to abortion substantially as it gives individual states the power to implement laws that restrict or ban access, as well as create consequences for medical experts providing the procedure such as confiscated licenses or incarceration. (1) This event is likely to substantially shift the landscape regarding reproductive rights, causing a significant impact on women, girls/youths, trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive individuals, especially those experiencing poverty.

     

    The overturning of Roe v. Wade resulted in the court ruling 6-3 to uphold a Republican-based Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. (1) Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan heavily criticized the decisions of the majority, closing their statements by stating, “with sorrow – for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection – we dissent.” (2) In 1973, the original Roe v. Wade ruling established that an individual’s decision to have an abortion was protected under rights that stem from the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment which outlines the protection of a citizen’s right to “life, liberty and property.” (1)

     

    The impact of this decision is set to have substantial impacts on the rights of many individuals within the United States, with many already being seen just days after the announcement. President Joe Biden, in response to the decision, stated “the health and life of women in this nation are now at risk… The court has done what it’s never done before, expressly take away a constitutional right that is so fundamental to so many Americans that had already been recognized. The court’s decision to do so will have real and immediate consequences.” (2) This is already being seen as many abortion clinics in the states with “trigger laws” regarding abortion have promptly stopped administering them as they assess what this ruling means for them. (1) The Justices opposing the overturning decision have stated how “from the very moment of fertilization, a woman has no rights to speak of,” (2) alluding to the limitations that are going to be felt by women all across America. Additionally, those same Justices spoke on the impact this decision will undeniably have on women experiencing poverty, stating “above all others, women lacking financial resources will suffer from today’s decision.” (2)

     

    This ruling is set to have a considerable impact on women, girls/youth, trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive individuals who are experiencing poverty. This comes at a time when both the pandemic and the economy have had intense impacts on women, specifically within the workforce. The wage gap, lack of affordable childcare, and lack of paid leave for pregnancy are barriers that low-income individuals already face within society. In addition, there is the gendered expectation that pregnant individuals are expected to take on the responsibility of childcare, impacting both their living wage and their overall well-being. (3) With the limitations imposed on abortion access, women are left with little opportunity to engage in the workforce if pregnant, causing significant impacts on their lives. The Turnaway Study, conducted by Dr. Diana Foster, a professor at the University of California San Francisco, found that women who were denied an abortion were four times more likely to be living below the Federal Poverty Line. (3) Additionally, this decision is set to have an impact on the cost of healthcare, an issue that already impacts many Americans financially. Previously, health insurance coverage for abortions was already limited, with the overturning of Roe v. Wade set to further limit this to the point where there may be no coverage available. (5) Individuals living in states restricting abortion access will also face the challenge of travelling across the country to have the procedure provided to them, causing additional financial struggles through travelling costs, and the complication of out-of-state health coverage. (2,5)

     

    This adds further complications to those who are struggling to provide for themselves and their families by removing the ability to make decisions that impact not only their wellbeing, but the potential well-being of their family. (3) Consequences of this may include children being raised in impoverished families or growing up with a lack of opportunities due to the circumstances the pregnancy occurred under. Dr. Foster’s research demonstrates that children born as a result of a denied abortion were more likely to live below the poverty line. (3) The impacts that the Roe v. Wade decision is set to have on individuals experiencing poverty is undeniable and places a further barrier to the well-being of pregnant individuals and their families.

     

    While this landmark decision is based in the United States, it is important to think about the consequences it may have within North America, and the broader scope of the world. A statement released by Planned Parenthood Toronto explains how “every time a high-profile right-wing stunt is carried off in the US or Canada, it opens the door slightly wider here in Canada. It shifts the benchmark of what is acceptable to even debate.” (4) While there are no laws governing abortion in Canada, accessing abortion services are not a simple or easy process, and may call into question the existence of these limited services that do exist. (4)

     

    The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is one of sincere magnitude and is likely to have an undeniable impact on women, girls/youths, trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive individuals throughout America. Going forward, there is likely to be intense discussion, debate, and protest surrounding this topic, and the decision made on June 24th, 2022 by the U.S. Supreme Court is one that will not be forgotten.

     

     

    End of text reference list (chronological):

    Gollom, M., & Iorfida, C. (2022, June 24). U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, leaving abortion rights up to states. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ussc-dobbs-abortion-ruling-1.6495637

    de Vogue, A., Sneed, T., Duster, C., & Cole, D. (2022, June 24). Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/24/politics/dobbs-mississippi-supreme-court-abortion-roe-wade/index.html

    Corbett, H. (2022, June 7). How Overturning Roe v. Wade Can Impact The Economy. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/hollycorbett/2022/06/07/how-overturning-roe-v-wade-can-impact-the-economy/?sh=17ece6af632f

    Datta-Ray, M. (2022, June). Planned Parenthood Toronto on Roe v. Wade Press Release. Planned Parenthood Toronto. http://ppt.on.ca/planned-parenthood-toronto-on-roe-v-wade-press-release/

    Nova, A. (2022, June 27). Here’s how the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision could affect health insurance coverage. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/27/supreme-court-roe-v-wade-decision-could-affect-health-insurance-coverage.html

     

    Mariska Konnik is a recent graduate from the University of Alberta with a BA in Criminology. She has a passion for social justice and hopes to assist individuals within the Edmonton community by sharing information and resources. She hopes to become a lawyer to continue her passion for social justice.

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  • Blog: Roe v. Wade: Implications and Impact for Abortion Access in a Canadian and Albertan Context

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    Many of us have been reeling with the seriousness from the United States Supreme Court’s overruling of Roe vs Wade, a ruling that has been in place since 1973, that is just shy of 50 years. Let that sink in. The ruling that has made it possible for countless people to access abortions for 49 years was overturned with a vote of 6-3. This has created conversation, controversy, and distress for many.   

    In this three-part blog series, we are going to dive deeper into why this ruling must be discussed, its implications for Albertans, and how decisions made by privileged people who hold power impact the living realities of the marginalized. 

    Why does this ruling matter? 

    This ruling is not a federal ban on abortions; however, it does turn over the decision to individual states to determine legality and access. (1) Did you know that while abortion is legal in Canada, the access is determined provincially

    In Canada, there is no specific reference to abortion, in the constitution, however, it does state, “The provinces have the authority to make laws about education, property, civil rights, the administration of justice, hospitals, municipalities, and other local or private matters within the provinces.” (2). What about the Canadian Bill of Rights? – there is no mention there either. How does this relate to the Roe v. Wade overturn? “In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Court ruled 6-3 that ‘the Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.’” (3) 

    Abortion should be, and technically is, protected under the current Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and through precedents set in court according to the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (2022). They state that “laws and the justice system tend to be used not to help marginalized groups but to control them, including people of colour, Indigenous peoples, the 2SLGBTQI+ community, sex workers, and of course ciswomen. A well-intentioned law could potentially do more harm than good, or not much good at all.” (4)  

    What is the history of Abortion Rights in Canada? 

    Canada had its own monumental court decision on abortion in 1988 R. v. Morgentaler. (5) This decision was a 5-2 vote and part of the decision written by Chief Justice Brian Dickson stated that “forcing a woman, by threat of criminal sanction, to carry a fetus to term unless she meets certain criteria unrelated to her own priorities and aspirations, is a profound interference with a woman’s body and thus a violation of security of the person.” (5). This ruling was made as a reflection of the violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms “because it infringed upon a woman’s right to ‘life, liberty and security of person’.”(5)  In 1990, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney put forward Bill C-43 which would have seen medical professionals incarcerated for performing non-life threatening abortions. “The bill was passed by the House of Commons but died in the Senate after a tie vote.” (5) 

    The Canada Health Act states, “tThe Act sets out the primary objective of Canadian health care policy, which is to protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers.” (6) While the Act may set out the objectives, the actual implementation is done by the provinces. “Today, abortion falls under provincial health-care systems as a medical procedure, meaning that access to the procedure varies considerably from place to place.” (7) 

    What does access in Alberta look like?  

    Is abortion legal in Canada? Yes. Does that mean abortion is easily accessed? No. 

    There are 3 clinics outside of hospitals in Alberta where medical or surgical abortions can be done, but these are only located in Edmonton and Calgary. Mifegymiso® is an oral drug used to terminate pregnancy (8) and has only been available in Canada since 2017. (5) It can be dispensed directly to patients by pharmacists, which means a person can take their prescription from their doctor to the pharmacist and then take the medication at home. (8) As with physicians and medical staff, pharmacists can also claim “conscientious objection” where dispensing the medication may go against their moral beliefs. (8) While medical practitioners and pharmacists are required to pass the person on to someone who will administer the medication or procedure, this is not always the case and is particularly difficult in rural communities where often there are limited options. Even rural communities that have obstetrical and/or surgical options are often still not abortion accessible, in part due to conscientious objection, misinformation regarding abortion, and stigma. (9) 

    The federal government is well aware of the potential barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health care. “While barriers vary from coast to coast to coast, in some instances they include a lack of availability, a lack of financial and logistical resources required to travel to access abortion care, and lack of culturally safe, stigma-free sexual and reproductive health services. Previous experiences of discrimination within the health care system also create access barriers for minority and marginalized groups, such as Indigenous and racialized people, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and youth.” (10)

    Yes, there are potential consequences for provinces that do not provide adequate access to sexual and reproductive health care such as a restriction of funds. This happened in New Brunswick, where $140,000 was withheld from “New Brunswick for failing to provide funding for abortions at a Fredericton clinic.” (7) Reducing funding as a consequence for something they did not want to do in the first place does not seem like much of a consequence and has broader ramifications for people needing access to care. 

    What Can We Do? 

    The question is not if abortion is legal in Canada, it is. Instead, the conversation needs to be about access, accountability and reducing stigma. 

    Access 

    Information pertaining to abortion access in Alberta is often misleading and at times contradictory. Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) website titled ‘Abortion Health Services’ is one example. The resource options at the site are minimal; they focus on external clinics and imply obtaining Mifepristone/Misoprostol for a medical abortion is only available through two clinics in Alberta, which is incorrect. (11) There is a newer AHS website titled “Abortion” that better explains abortion options in Alberta. (12) The issue is that both pages appear when searching Google. There needs to be clarity around availability and choice and information needs to be accurate and accessible. 

    For people living in rural areas, there needs to be more accessible options. Having to travel to receive an abortion is costly and is an unnecessary barrier. There needs to be special consideration for access to marginalized groups and consideration of lived experiences. We need to have meaningful conversations around ways in which access is expanded and barriers can be reduced.  

    Accountability 

    The issue of physicians or facilities not providing certain reproductive health services is a problem. While practitioners and pharmacists have the right to “conscientious objection,” they are required by their professional bodies to ensure that the human being coming into their office has other options for care which means referring them to someone who will not object.  

    The Canada Health Act exists for a reason. The federal government needs to ensure provinces comply. Provinces must be held accountable as they are responsible for providing access; while Health Canada states that financial investments into sexual and reproductive health “reflect our belief that women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies and that no matter who you are or where you live, we will always protect reproductive rights for all individuals in Canada,”(Health Canada, 2022) it means little if people cannot access the resources they need to support those same decisions.  

    Reduce Stigma and Shame 

    People who are considering, experiencing, or recovering from an abortion should be supported in their decision physically and mentally. There are many myths surrounding abortion and this creates barriers of misinformation.  

    Abortion should be de-stigmatized and seen as an important component of sexual and reproductive health rather than something to be ashamed of.  

    It is imperative that these conversations continue to happen because there will always be people trying to suppress and/or eliminate the rights. People in positions of power and privilege have a responsibility to ensure that rights are protected for the marginalized. 

     

    Resources About Abortion: 

    Alberta Abortion Resource Network 

    https://www.albertaabortionaccess.com/

    Abortion Clinics in Alberta 

    https://www.albertaabortionaccess.com/clinics-in-alberta 

    Abortion Clinics and Resources in Canada 

    https://www.arcc-cdac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/list-abortion-clinics-canada.pdf 

    About Abortion 

    https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tw1040 

    Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights: Common Myths About Abortion

    https://www.actioncanadashr.org/campaigns/common-myths-about-abortion 

     

    References: 

    1. McClain, E. & Huberfeld. N. (2022, June 24). Roe overturned: What you need to know about the Supreme Court abortion decision. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/roe-overturned-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-supreme-court-abortion-decision-184692?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2025-26%202022&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2025-26%202022+CID_cf957f25141a8f31a0b9164d8b0a79ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor_ca&utm_term=Roe%20overturned%20What%20you%20need%20to%20know%20about%20the%20Supreme%20Court%20abortion%20decision Government of Canada. (2021). The Canadian Constitution. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/just/05.html  
    2. Flowers, P. (June 24, 2022) US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade – but for abortion opponents, this is just the beginning. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/us-supreme-court-overturns-roe-v-wade-but-for-abortion-opponents-this-is-just-the-beginning-185768?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2025-26%202022&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2025-26%202022+CID_cf957f25141a8f31a0b9164d8b0a79ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor_ca&utm_term=US%20Supreme%20Court%20overturns%20Roe%20v%20Wade%20%20but%20for%20abortion%20opponents%20this%20is%20just%20the%20beginning 
    3. Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC). (June, 2022). Position paper #66 Why we do NOT need to enshrine abortion rights into law. https://www.arcc-cdac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/66-dont-enshrine-abortion-rights-into-law.pdf
    4. National Abortion Federation of Canada. (2022). History of Abortion in Canada. https://nafcanada.org/history-abortion-canada/ 
    5. Government of Canada, (2020). Canada Health Act. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/canada-health-care-system-medicare/canada-health-act.html 
    6. Smith, MD. (2022, June 28). Canada has no abortion right law. Does it need one? CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada-abortion-law-1.6503899 
    7. Alberta College of Pharmacy. (2019). Guidelines for dispensing Mifegymiso®  https://abpharmacy.ca/sites/default/files/Guidelines_Mifegymiso.pdf 
    8. Yousif, N. (2019, January 19). Rural Albertans still have ‘no choices’ when it comes to abortions, activists say. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2019/01/19/rural-albertans-still-have-no-choices-when-it-comes-to-abortions-activists-say.html 
    9. Health Canada (2022, May 11). Government of Canada strengthens access to abortion services. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2022/05/government-of-canada-strengthens-access-to-abortion-services.html 
    10. Alberta Health Services. (n.d.). Abortion health services. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/service.aspx?Id=1003402 
    11. MyHealthAlberta. (2022). Abortion. Alberta Health Services. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tw1040 

                           

                           

                           

                           

                           

                           

                           

                           

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                        1. Blog: June 27th is the 51st Anniversary of Canadian Multiculturalism Day

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                          By Jayme Wong

                          Monday, June 27th, 2022 is Canadian Multiculturalism Day. Since 2002, this day marks and celebrates the contributions to Canadian society by individuals of various backgrounds and their diversity [1]. Placed between National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st and Canada Day on July 1st, Canadian Multiculturalism Day celebrates the diversity that makes up the nation’s vibrant cultural tapestry. However, is one day a year enough to celebrate and promote multiculturalism?  

                          In the simplest sense, multiculturalism is the acknowledgment of multiple cultural identities. In Canada, this means “ensuring that all citizens keep their identities, take pride in their ancestry, and have a sense of belonging” [2]. Multiculturalism is considered an important foundation of Canadian society, having been enshrined by law in the Canadian Multiculturalism Act in 1985. The Act “recognize[s] and promote[s] the understanding that multiculturalism reflects the cultural and racial diversity of Canadian society and acknowledges the freedom of all members of Canadian society to preserve, enhance and share their cultural heritage” [3]. The policy also encourages, fosters, and promotes the advancement of multiculturalism, calling for equitable participation and treatment of all individuals in Canadian society, regardless of cultural, ethnic, or racial origin. How citizens go about finding their sense of belonging is not explicitly prescribed by doctrine and, while Canadian Multiculturalism Day provides an opportunity for Canadians to openly promote and celebrate their cultural heritages, there is no account for how Canadians should address these key features of their identities the other 364 days of the year. 

                          Canada’s multiculturalism policy has always stood in stark contrast to the United States’ “melting pot”, which encourages the assimilation of newcomers to one common culture. In recent years, American scholars have denounced the melting pot theory in favour of the “salad bowl”, “where cultures of different shapes and sizes can coexist” [4]. One main difference between Canada’s multiculturalism and America’s salad bowl is that ours is an ideology that has been acknowledged by the government and protected by law. However, whether law is enough to prompt action from the citizenry to make multiculturalism a reality and promote national unity, is still up for debate. 

                          Does having multiculturalism enshrined in policy actually make a difference to social attitudes? Both Canadian and American ideas have been the subject of deep scrutiny with proponents of the melting pot/salad bowl theory rejecting multiculturalism and vice versa. Critics of multiculturalism, such as D.C.-based writer, Kenny Xu, suggest that multiculturalism creates differences instead of minimizing them: “[M]ulticulturalists create [a] yawning inequality in our society: between those who believe in and benefit from America’s cultural melting pot and those who reject it and become strangers in their own land” [5]. While others, like Alberta’s former Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women, Leela Sharon Aheer, suggest that the differences are a strength: “Multiculturalism is a choir, where many different voices join together to create beautiful music. It is also the foundation to this province, and the key to building a vibrant and inclusive future” [6]. 

                          Regardless of the ongoing debate, both multiculturalism and the melting pot/salad bowl are still just ideas – ideas that stay in text unless they are manifested into reality by actions. While the Canadian Multiculturalism Act does call upon federal institutions to “generally, carry on their activities in a manner that is sensitive and responsive to the multicultural reality of Canada” [3], this includes the ongoing colonization and inhabitation of Indigenous lands and reluctant support for the accommodation of religious diversity [7].  

                          Hate incidents in Canada reported by South Asian and Southeast Asian people increased by 318% and 121%, respectively, during 2021 [8].  In 2019, 46% of Black Canadians aged 15+ reported experienced at least one form of discrimination in the past five years [9]. Regardless of the federal government’s mandates, it is up to the citizenry to ensure that Canada’s multiculturalism actually lives up to its name. 

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                          This Canadian Multiculturalism Day, I invite you to join the celebrations that are happening around the province. Actively celebrating each other’s cultures and embracing our differences is what enables Canada’s national mosaic. But, remember that multiculturalism includes the good, the bad, and the ugly – the ridges and fractures that appear when multiple cultures come into contact and confront each other for the first time. While the Canadian Multiculturalism Act ensures that there is infrastructure in place to support culturally diverse endeavours, it is the individual actions made by Canadians that ensure multiculturalism’s effectiveness.  

                          End of text reference list (chronological): 

                          [1] Proclamation Declaring June 27 of each year as “Canadian Multiculturalism Day” (SI/2002-160). Retrieved from the Justice Laws website: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SI-2002-160/page-1.html 

                          [2] Multiculturalism. (2022, May 30). Government of Canada. Retrieved June 19, 2022, from https://www.canada.ca/en/services/culture/canadian-identity-society/multiculturalism.html 

                          [3] Canadian Multiculturalism Act. (R.S.C., 1985, c. 24 (4th Supp.)). Retrieved from the Justice Laws website: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-18.7/page-1.html 

                          [4] Vidal, Jennifer. (2018, December 16). America the Salad Bowl – but some vegetables are more equal than others. Medium. https://medium.com/immigration-nation/america-the-salad-bowl-4883f9a77ad2 

                          [5] Xu, Kenny. (2021, February 16.) What Multiculturalism Has Wrought. City Journal. https://www.city-journal.org/why-immigrants-favor-melting-pot-over-multiculturalism 

                          [6] Canadian Multiculturalism Day: Minister Aheer. 2021, June 27. Red Deer News Now. https://rdnewsnow.com/2021/06/27/canadian-multiculturalism-day-minister-aheer/  

                          [7] Jedwab, Jack. (2011). Multiculturalism. In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/multiculturalism 

                          [8] Balintec, Jessica. (2022, April 3). 2 years into the pandemic, anti-Asian hate is still on the rise in Canada, report show. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/2-years-into-the-pandemic-anti-asian-hate-is-still-on-the-rise-in-canada-report-shows-1.6404034 

                          [9] Cotter, Adam. (2022, February 16). Experiences of discrimination among Black and Indigenous populations in Canada, 2019. Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2022001/article/00002-eng.htm 

                           

                           

                           

                          Jayme has a BA in English and Philosophy from the University of Lethbridge and an MA in English and Film Studies from the University of Alberta. She currently lives in Edmonton with her partner and their cat. 

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                        2. Blog: World Refugee Day – Right to Seek Safety

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                          By Jordan Clark Marcichiw

                          Each year on June 20th countries from across the globe celebrate World Refugee Day, a day designated to honour the bravery, courage, and resilience of those who have been forced to flee their countries of origin to escape conflict or disaster. It is a day that creates public awareness and calls upon better support of people who are refugees in our communities.   

                          The United Nations declared June 20th World Refugee Day in the year 2001, which marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. (1) This year’s theme is the Right to Seek Safety, declaring everyone has the right to seek safety – whoever they are, wherever they come from, and whenever they are forced to flee. (1)  

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                          Whoever  

                          “Whoever they are, people forced to flee should be treated with dignity. Anyone can seek protection, regardless of who they are or what they believe. It is non-negotiable: seeking safety is a human right.” (1) 

                          In Canada, we have welcomed over one million refugees, diversifying our communities and strengthening our workforce.  Refugees are often depicted as being burdens on society, which is not the case (3).  Statistics show over half of refugees are employed in high-skilled jobs, are younger and more likely to be of working age, and 14% of refugees are self-employed entrepreneurs (compared to the 12% of Canada-born entrepreneurs). (4) It is important to remember that regardless of work status, all people have a right to safety.   

                          Wherever  

                          “Wherever they come from, people forced to flee should be welcomed. Refugees come from all over the globe. To get out of harm’s way, they might take a plane, a boat, or travel on foot. What remains universal is the right to seek safety.” (1) 

                          Refugees in Canada have come from a variety of countries, such as Syria, the Ukraine, Iraq, Thailand, Kosovo, and Poland. (5)  The narrative which presents refugees as “good vs. bad” based on their country of origin remains persistent today. (3) For example, Afghan refugees are currently navigating stricter and more complex barriers to access refuge in Canada, compared to Ukrainian refugees. (6) Though many Ukrainian refugees do not meet the traditional United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) definition of refugee, the Canadian government has made several policy changes to offer refuge to Ukrainians who have been displaced. (6)  While the support offered to Ukrainian refugees is commendable, this level of support should be available to all refugees, regardless of their country of origin.     

                          Whenever  

                          “Whenever people are forced to flee, they have a right to be protected. Whatever the threat – war, violence, persecution – everyone deserves protection. Everyone has a right to be safe.” (1) 

                          Though Canada continues to admit high numbers of refugees, processing and wait times are highly criticized by refugee advocates.  As of May 2022, Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have been struggling to get through a backlog of 2.1 million immigration applications (7), delaying the ability of refugees to access safety.  This has created considerable effects on the emotional and physical well-being of people who are refugees.  

                          What Can I do? 

                          • Advocate – Consider what you can do to better advocate for refugees across the globe and in Edmonton.  Like other populations in Canada, refugees are a diverse and complex group whose needs will vary. Consider the complexities of being a refugee, ask yourself questions such as: “Do refugee services appropriately support those who also identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community?”, “Are the needs of refugee seniors and children considered in program policies?,” or “Are disability services accessible for those in the refugee population?” If the answer to any of these questions is no, then advocacy work needs to be done.    

                          References 

                          1. The Office of the Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.  (2022).  World refugee day.  https://www.unhcr.ca/how-to-help/events/world-refugee-day/ 
                          2. The Office of the Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.  (2022).  External toolkit: World refugee day 2022. [Slide 5]. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RFbqL_nU_AHJtUl6M2jtPfXjOlqwXBpUiPqNR7sRG6w/edit#slide=id.g1234761c880_0_197 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RFbqL_nU_AHJtUl6M2jtPfXjOlqwXBpUiPqNR7sRG6w/edit#slide=id.g1234761c880_0_197  
                          3. Dossios, D. (2022, May). Canada’s asylum system is outdated, say authors of ‘Flight and Freedom’. New Canada Media.  https://newcanadianmedia.ca/canadas-asylum-system-is-outdated-and-rigid/   
                          4. The Office of the Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.  (n.d.). Refugees in Canada.  https://www.unhcr.ca/in-canada/refugees-in-canada/  
                          5. The Government of Canada.  (n.d.). Canada: A History of refuge https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/history.html  
                          6. Sachdeva, R.  (2022, March).  ‘Night and day’: Lawyers say Canada offers more support to Ukrainian refugees than Afghans.  CTV News.  https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/night-and-day-lawyers-say-canada-offers-more-support-to-ukrainian-refugees-than-afghans-1.5831685 
                          7. Singer, C.  (2022, June).  Canada crosses milestone of welcoming 15,000 Afghan Refugees.  Immigration.ca. https://www.immigration.ca/canada-crosses-milestone-of-welcoming-15000-afghan-refugees  
                          8. The Office of the Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.  (2022). World refugee day events in Canada.  https://www.unhcr.ca/how-to-help/events/world-refugee-day/world-refugee-day-events/   

                                        Jordan Clark Marcichiw (she/her) is a social worker who is passionate about spreading knowledge and advocating for systems change for the betterment of all individuals. Her personal interests include hiking, kayaking, skiing, playing slo-pitch, reading, and adventuring with her pup. 

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