AccessBC

On October 10, 2024, Bill C-64 – An Act respecting pharmacare – passed third reading in the Senate and will shortly be receiving royal assent. The AccessBC Campaign applauds this important step towards free and universal prescription contraception coverage for all Canadians. 

The AccessBC Campaign, the grassroots movement that successfully advocated for universal access to no-cost prescription contraception in BC, is recognizing World Contraception Day (September 26, 2024) by applauding the provincial government’s leadership in reproductive justice and calling for further expansion of the policy.

Reproductive justice advocates across Canada are celebrating the Government of Manitoba announcement that Manitoba will become the second Canadian province to offer universal no-cost prescription contraception. At a press conference on August 22, Uzoma Asagwara, Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care, announced that starting October 1, 2024, the Manitoba Pharmacare Program will cover the full cost of around 60 commonly used forms of prescription, including the pill, intrauterine devices (IUDs), hormone injections and more.

On June 3, 2024, Bill C-64 (An Act respecting pharmacare) passed third reading in the House of Commons, and this Bill is now moving to the Senate for consideration. The AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception has launched a national letter-writing campaign calling on the Senate to stand up for healthcare and pass Bill C-64 quickly and without amendment before the end of this legislative session.

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.

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.”

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.