Premier Ralph Klein and the Alberta College of Physicians and surgeons play a shameless game of political football in an effort to defuse a popular movement
In the end the Alberta government’s efforts to de-fund abortions seemed to vapourize into thin air. However, Premier Ralph Klein’s decision not to handle this hot potato may have landed him in hot water with ma y of his strongest supporters.
After months of pressure from taxpayer groups and ordinary Albertans, Klein was forced to act on an issue of which he wanted no part. Separate polls found that over two-thirds of Albertans wanted abortions de-funded. Thousands of letters, post-cards and faxes flowed into the Premier’s office and callers (many identifying themselves as pro-abortion) jammed radio talk shows demanding that the government de-fund the procedure.
The committee to End Taxpayer Funded Abortions effectively lobbied Klein’s caucus who then brought pressure to bear on Klein. Alberta’s healthcare system was undergoing major restructuring and many in the province thought that if brand new hospitals could be closed and physiotherapy removed from provincial coverage, perhaps the time was ripe to take a second look at abortion funding.
Obviously, Klein, the Alberta Medical Association and some powerful interests didn’t think so. Health Minister Shirley McClellan made a public announcement that the government would no longer pay for abortions that were medically necessary. She then passed it to the AMA to define medical necessity.
The AMA and its ethical committee the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons refused to shoulder the government’s responsibility and passed it back to the government. Subsequently, McClellan said because there was no consensus, the issue was dead.
The government’s feeble efforts angered many who thought they had a case says Joanne Hatton of the Committee to End Taxpayers Funded Abortions.
“We’re disappointed and angry. Klein and his advisors knew all along that the doctors wouldn’t co-operate,” she said in an interview with The Interim. “The premier never wanted anything to do with this issue and said so from the very beginning.
“However, the antics which he and the doctors went through to avoid the issue opened up a lot of eyes in the province,” said Hatton, mentioning that Klein, who loves to be regarded as a populist, did not act with the populace on this issue.
According to some Albertans, the issue is by means dead. A majority of Klein’s caucus support de-funding as do a majority of Albertans. Hatton disagrees with the Health Minister’s claim that the issue has been dealt with.
“We’re by no means finished – we still have so much public support. This government has declared the issue dead so many times. Most people are uncomfortable with abortion and certainly don’t want to pay for it.”
Meetings are in progress to determine the next step.
