Parti Qubcois MNA seeks to protect access to abortion clinics

A Parti Qubcois MNA has tabled a private member's bill that, if adopted, would protect abortion clinics and theirpatients.The bill aims to establish security perimeters around the province's 47 clinics.

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Carole Poirier, the PQ'sspokesperson on the status of women, tabled Bill 595at the National Assembly on Wednesday.

The bill looks to British Columbia's Access to Abortion Services Act, adopted in 1995,as inspiration.

Poirier saidthe proposed legislationwould give womenusing the clinic's services "free and unimpeded access,"establishing areas restricted to protesters.

It would also"prohibitstopping and questioning, harassing, verbally abusing, threatening,intimidating or attempting to intimidate" patients, doctors and clinic employees.

Poirier saidshe's received support for the bill from Health MinisterGatan Barrette.

Lise Theriault, the minister for the status of women, saidthe Liberal government has been looking into the concerns and will make its plans clear in the coming weeks.

Welcome and necessary

It's a welcome and necessary move, saidFrance Desilets, the general manager of Montreal's MorgentalerClinic.

"I myself have been followed in the Metro.I've been photographed outside the clinic.I've been confined to the clinic as protesters were outside my door," said Desilets.

She saidthe Morgentaler Clinic has been the target of protesters since it opened in 1968.

"The rulenow is, you need to get an injunction in court to protect the access to your clinic and, if you move, you need to get another injunction," Poirersaid.

That was the case for the Morgentaler Clinic when it moved from itslocation on St-Joseph Boulevard to its new location on Berri Street.

Desilets says the St-Joseph location was granted a permanent injunction which meant protesters could only gather across the street from the clinic.

"When we were forced to move at the end of 2014, we lost that injunction," she said.

"We immediately went and got an emergency injunction and then a temporary injunction."

Desiletssaid shehopes the legislation will pass, offeringa more permanent solution to the issue.