On June 2, 1988 Ontario Health Minister Elinor Caplan introduced legislation to make independent health clinics eligible for provincial payments. It would apply to ten existing clinics, including those in Toronto run by abortionists Morgentaler and Scott.
Morgentaler quickly announced that he will apply for a license under the new legislation, and declared that the province should use his clinic as a model for a system of other ones. Mrs. Caplan said that in future new independent clinics would have to offer a range of health services instead of performing abortions only.
However, the Morgentaler and Scott abortuaries will be covered by the new Independent Health Facilities Act as an exemption. The new legislation gives the lie to Premier Peterson’s three-year old promise that he would shut down the offending abortuaries. To date, no Liberal MPPs have raised their voices in opposition.
