“Sex work is work, and sex workers deserve to work in conditions that are safe and healthy,” said Devon Black, co-founder of AccessBC. “For many sex workers, one of the tools they need to work safely is their contraception of choice. Unfortunately, sex workers often face additional barriers in accessing contraception, which can expose them to unnecessary health risks while trying to make ends meet.”

“Too often, intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion go hand-in-hand,” said Devon Black, co-founder of AccessBC. “Unfortunately, one of the biggest barriers to accessing contraception is cost, and in abusive relationships it’s common for the abusive partner to try to control every aspect of the relationship - including finances.”

B.C. Premier John Horgan says his government is open to funding universal, publicly funded contraception as advocates insist the program could actually save money in the long run....

"Even though there are programs in place that can assist some people in accessing contraception there are still people falling through the cracks," Devon Black, co-founder of AccessBC told CTV News via Skype.

"...we should seriously consider committing to a universal contraception program. Not only will this relieve some fiscal pressure on our communities, but it will also enhance the reproductive rights of non-trans women and acknowledge their personal autonomy, dignity, and experience. We really shouldn’t settle for anything less. 

In honour of World Contraception Day – which takes place on Sept. 26 annually – AccessBC and Options for Sexual Health are asking the B.C. government to make all forms of prescription birth free and to support health care sites in providing the full range of contraception options.

In an online statement, AccessBC says the costs of contraception “[falls] disproportionately on women and people with uteruses, and cost represents a significant barrier, particularly to women with low incomes, youth, and people from marginalized communities.”

We call on the Government of British Columbia and the Legislative Assembly to ensure that the 2020 budget includes provisions to make all forms of prescription contraception universally accessible and free for any citizen. We call on the government to ensure that all community clinics, hospitals, and identified health care sites are supported to carry a full complement of contraception, to ensure that choice is available based on the needs and personal preference of the individual seeking the contraception. 

Two groups, Options for Sexual Health and AccessBC, argue the cost of providing universal access to oral contraceptives, intra-uterine devices (IUDs) and hormone injections would actually be offset by the savings that would result from fewer unplanned pregnancies to the province's public health system.

“It’s heartening to see that the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services recommending that the 2020 budget include efforts to explore the provision of free contraception in a targeted and incremental manner,” said Access B.C. co-founder Devon Black.

A presentation by AccessBC's very own Bree Gardner to a meeting of the BC Humanist Association. 

The AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception in BC, Co-founder and Committee Chair, Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, speaking to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services: Budget 2020 Consultation, on June 10, 2019.

Selon la méthode utilisée, la contraception féminine peut coûter jusqu'à près de 400$ par année. Une avocate de Victoria, Devon Black, et son regroupement, Access BC, font campagne pour que la contraception sur ordonnance soit gratuite. À l'heure actuelle, les types de contraception sur ordonnance les plus populaires ne sont pas couverts par l'assurance-maladie.

AccessBC has just launched a campaign to remove barriers to prescription contraception, with a goal of seeking universal coverage of prescription contraceptives.

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On Friday, as part of Victoria’s celebration of International Women’s Day, the group launched its campaign and is encouraging members of the public to contact their MLAs on the issue.

AccessBC, an advocacy group based in Saanich, is calling on the provincial government to pay for all prescription contraception.

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“Things like birth control and IUDs are expensive,” said Devon Black with AccessBC.  “As of 2016, about 61 per cent of Canadian women have had an unplanned pregnancy.”

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She says the majority of the time those costs fall on women.

This is also a question of gender equality, said Black. “Right now, women get the short end of the stick almost every time when it comes to reproductive costs,” she said. While men can easily access condoms for little or no cost, and MSP covers vasectomies, the most reliable contraception methods for women are only available with prescriptions, and can significant amounts. “If an unplanned pregnancy occurs, most of those costs fall on women as well,” she said.