AccessBC

Hansard, June 10, 2020

Devon Black Presentation to Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services 

Our co-founder Devon Black's presentation to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as part of the 2021 Budget Consultation process. This is the full transcript. 

AccessBC, March 6, 2020

Burnaby Endorses No-Cost Prescription Contraception and AccessBC Campaign Statement for International Women’s Day

On Monday, February 24th, Burnaby City Council passed a motion calling on the Provincial Government to cover all prescription contraception available at no cost under the BC Medical Services Plan.

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​Burnaby joins two other major cities - Vancouver and Victoria in urging the provincial government to adopt this important policy.

AccessBC, March 3, 2020

Vancouver City Council Supports No-Cost Prescription Contraception

Today, Vancouver City Council unanimously passed a motion calling on the Provincial Government to cover all prescription contraception available at no cost under the BC Medical Services Plan.

“Unless prescription contraception is free, people who don’t have much money won’t have the same access to it as others, plain and simple. Contraception should be free just like other parts of our medical system,” says Councillor Jean Swanson.

Fat Besties, Feb. 20, 2020

Fat Besties Endorses the AccessBC Universal Contraception Coverage Campaign

It is important to note that access to contraception that is effective for all bodies is a significant factor that must be considered when discussing this issue. Weight stigma in health care can reduce research, provision of evidence based information or proper counselling regarding reproductive health with fat patients. Many fat individuals are denied access to contraception based on prejudiced conceptions of sexual activity, BMI and body weight. Additionally, some contraceptive methods are only sufficient for certain weight categories and therefore are not effective for larger bodies, however this information is rarely passed on to fat patients....

AccessBC, Feb. 18, 2020

Press Release: AccessBC Campaign Response to 2020 BC Budget

The AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception was disappointed to see that the 2020 BC provincial budget was released today without any commitment from the government to reduce the cost of prescription contraception in our province.

“Providing universal, no-cost contraception coverage isn’t just good public health policy,” said AccessBC co-founder Devon Black. “It’s also good fiscal policy, as we’ve seen over and over in jurisdictions where this kind of policy has been implemented. Today’s budget was a big missed opportunity.”

Canadian Health Coalition, Feb. 15, 2020

Letter to Minister Morneau Re:Pharmacare

Over 170 national and provincial organizations from all regions across Canada released a joint statement calling on the new federal government to immediately implement universal, public pharmacare. The Pharmacare Now statement is supported by a diverse coalition representing health care providers, non-profit organizations, unions, workers, seniors and patients from coast to coast to coast. 

CFMS-AccessBC, Feb. 12, 2020

Canadian Federation of Medical Students – AccessBC Campaign Joint Statement

Access to contraception is a human right. Universal coverage for contraception empowers people, improves health outcomes, and leads to significant cost savings. Today, the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS) and the AccessBC Campaign are pleased to release the following joint statement in support of universal no-cost prescription contraception across Canada.

UBCMUS/AccessBC, January 28, 2020

Support for Universal Contraception Coverage - Joint Statement: UBC Medical Undergraduate Society and Access BC

Access to contraception is a human right. Universal coverage for contraception empowers people, improves health outcomes, and leads to significant cost savings. Today, UBC medical students join the AccessBC campaign to advocate that prescription contraception be made universally available at no cost in British Columbia.

AccessBC, January 23, 2020

Press Release - Victoria City Council Supports No-Cost Prescription Contraception

“This policy is about equality,” said Devon Black, co-founder of AccessBC. “Vasectomies are covered by BC’s Medical Services Plan and condoms are handed out for free, but contraception for people with uteruses can still cost hundreds of dollars. That’s not something that is acceptable in 2020.”

AccessBC, January 22, 2020

Media Advisory - Victoria City Council to Debate No-Cost Contraception Motion

“It’s great to see this issue being debated by Victoria City Council,” said Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, committee chair and co-founder of the AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception in BC. “The benefits of making all prescription contraception universally available at no cost have been demonstrated in other jurisdictions, in terms of public health outcomes, fiscal savings, promoting equality, and impact on individuals. It’s time for BC to step up.”

AccessBC, January 16, 2020

Women’s March 2020 - Statement, AccessBC

“Access to contraception is an equality issue,” said AccessBC co-founder Devon Black. “Vasectomies are covered by provincial health plans and condoms are frequently made available for free, but the prescription contraception that women are more likely to rely on can cost hundreds of dollars. The costs of reproductive health - whether in the form of contraception or in the costs of unintended pregnancies - fall disproportionately on people with uteruses.”

AccessBC, January 10, 2020

AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception building momentum

AccessBC is a province-wide campaign that advocates for universal no-cost prescription contraception in British Columbia. AccessBC is currently running a letter-writing campaign to urge the BC Government to include this policy in the 2020 provincial budget, which comes out in mid-February. The AccessBC campaign has been building some serious momentum, with groups and organizations adding their support and hundreds of letters pouring in from across the province.

AccessBC, Dec. 17, 2019

Our Community: Red Umbrella Day calls for sex workers’ safety

“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.”

AccessBC, December 6, 2019

AccessBC Statement for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

“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.”

AccessBC, September 26, 2019

World Contraception Day - Joint Statement   Options for Sexual Health - AccessBC 

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. 

AccessBC, August 7, 2019

Press Release: 2020 Budget Consultation Recommendations 

Today, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services released its Report on the Budget 2020 Consultation, and members of the AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception are applauding its recommendation that the upcoming budget include a move towards making prescription contraception in BC free. 

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Recommendation 50 reads as follows: “The Committee recommends to the Legislative Assembly that the provincial government … Explore the provision of free contraception in a targeted and incremental manner.”