Rona Ambrose denies role in RU-486 abortion pill approval

The federal health minister said she played no role inHealth Canada's approvalof the so-called abortion pill.

• RU-486: What you need to know about the recently approved abortion pill
• RU-486 abortion pill approved by Health Canada

Rona Ambrose was announcinginfrastructure grantsin St.Albert, Alta., Thursday morning when reporters asked for her reaction.

"You would have to speak with the officials at Health Canada and the scientists that actually manage the regulatory approval process," she said.

"I'm not involved in it," she said. "The decision does not rest with me. It's out of my hands and the decision is final."

RU-486 has been available since 1988 in France. The drug was approved for use in the United States in 2000 and is also available inmore than 57 countries.

Anti-abortion groups launched petitions againstthe drug arguing Canada does not need to make abortion access easier and citing its health risks to the mother.

Clinical trials in Canada were halted in 2001 following the death of one woman.

In Canada, women will requirea prescription from a doctor to purchase the drug.