In a lot of ways, Quebec is the most progressive province in Canada. Quebec was the first province to include sexual orientation in its Human Rights Code in 1977, there is a codified right to live in a “healthful” environment that preserves biodiversity, and it was way ahead of the curve when it came to recognizing the link between female participation in the workforce and affordable childcare. 

So when Quebec starts talking about enshrining a right to abortion, it would make sense to think that this is some magnificent step forward for abortion rights and women’s bodily autonomy in the country. That interpretation would be wrong.

The current attempt by the CAQ government to codify a right to an abortion in its proposed “constitution” (I’m using quotes here because despite the CAQ’s insistence in proclaiming it to be a “constitution,” Bill 1, otherwise known as the Québec Constitution Act, would be a regular piece of legislation, subject to all the normal procedures to amend or repeal legislation) would essentially have the opposite of the intended effect and make it much easier to chip away at abortion rights.

Abortion was........

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