AccessBC

“Today, we are celebrating BC’s leadership on reproductive justice,” said Teale Phelps Bondaroff, AccessBC Campaign Chair and Co-founder. “This year, BC became the first province in Canada to make prescription contraception universally available at no cost, and the policy has already helped transform lives and improve the health and well-being of British Columbians.”

A new survey conducted by Abacus Data, an Ottawa polling firm, shows exceptionally high approval amongst Canadians for federal universal coverage of contraception. The survey reveals that 83% of Canadians approve of a federal policy for free prescription birth control across Canada, given studies show each $1 invested in universal contraception can save up to $9 in taxpayer dollars.

The AccessBC Campaign is proud to support Project EmpowHER and the launch of their House of Commons Petition E-4516, advocating for universal federal coverage for contraception. 

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The petition calls on the federal government to commit to a federal policy for universal contraception coverage by September 26, 2023.

AccessBC is delighted that British Columbia has become the first jurisdiction in Canada to make all prescription contraception free. On April 1, 2023, prescription contraception will be made free to all British Columbia residents. The 2023 provincial budget has dedicated $119 million over three years for a program that will fully cover prescription contraception options, including most oral pills, injections, copper and hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants, and Plan B (also known as the morning after pill).

AccessBC is delighted to see that the 2023 BC provincial budget, released today, includes a commitment from the government to make all prescription contraception free. We won!

This week, the AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception installed transit ads across the lower mainland. The campaign hopes that these ads, along with a billboard in Victoria that went up last week, will help mobilize the public to put additional pressure on the government prior to the 2023 budget. The ads can be found at the following Skytrain stations: Burquitlam, Coquitlam Central, Inlet, Lougheed Town Centre, and Production Way-University.

This week, AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception installed a billboard along the Patricia Bay Highway just south of Mt. Newton Cross Road, outside of Victoria. This is the first time the grassroots campaign has advertised and it is hoping that the billboard, and additional planned ads in the lower mainland, will help mobilize the public to put additional pressure on the government prior to the 2023 budget.

On this day, the AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception is calling on the BC government to stand up for human rights, and follow through on its promise to make all prescription contraception in the province free. During their 2020 provincial election platform, the BC NDP promised to make all prescription contraception free, and the policy has been in both of Health Minister Dix’s mandate letters, yet despite this promise, the policy has yet to be implemented.

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) advocates in BC and across Canada have joined their voices together to demand reproductive justice. Advocates are calling on the federal and provincial governments to do more than make statements or release small amounts of funding – they must take real action to improve people’s access to SRH in Canada.