AccessBC

The AccessBC Campaign has been awarded the Jack Layton Progress Prize at the Broadbent Institute’s 2024 Progress Summit, held in Ottawa, April 10-12. The grassroots campaign and its co-founders, Devon Black and Teale Phelps Bondaroff, were recognized for their work successfully advocating for free prescription contraception in BC.

The AccessBC Campaign is celebrating the first anniversary of free prescription contraception in British Columbia. The grassroots campaign that advocated for universal coverage of prescription contraception applauds the B.C. government’s leadership on reproductive justice issues and calls for the further expansion of the policy.

The announcement that the federal Liberal government and the NDP have come to an agreement on pharmacare and that the plan will include coverage of contraception is being celebrated by reproductive justice advocates across Canada. These advocates are urging the government to ensure that the plan covers as wide a range of contraceptive options as possible.

On Tuesday, November 22, the provincial government announced in its Speech from the Throne that it would be making prescription contraception free. While the Throne Speech did not include details, the Manitoba NDP’s election platform included a promise to “cover the full cost of dozens of commonly used birth-control methods, including oral contraceptives, copper and hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), hormonal injections and the morning-after pill.”

“In British Columbia we've seen how impactful free contraception has been, with more than 166,000 people able to access this basic healthcare since the policy was implemented,” said Devon Black, co-founder and national liaison for AccessBC, the campaign that successfully advocated for free prescription contraception in British Columbia. “We're thrilled at the success of our fellow advocates in Manitoba, and we look forward to when free contraception becomes a reality across Canada.”

Ten provinces/territories have income-based coverage. Five formalized no-cost contraception campaigns were found: AccessBC, Wellness Within, Universal Access to Contraception Saskatchewan, Birth Control Access for Manitoba, Cover ContraceptiON. Three were clinician-founded and all have clinician-trainee involvement. All conduct research, make statements, consult with government, and engage in public mobilization. Two have letter writing campaigns and six political parties have endorsed the policy. British Columbia was the first to implement universal no-cost contraception on April 1, 2023.

“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.

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!

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.