Ontario makes it illegal to protest outside and near abortion clinicsLegislature passes bill to create zones around 8 abortion clinics in the provinceThe Canadian Press Posted: Oct 25, 2017 6:03 PM ET Last Updated: Oct 25, 2017 6:03 PM ET
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-abortion-protest-bill-1.4372090It will soon be illegal to protest outside and near abortion clinics in Ontario.
The legislature passed a bill Wednesday to create zones around the eight clinics in the province of between 50 and 150 metres in which anti-abortion protests, advising a person not to get an abortion, and intimidation or interfering with a woman's ability to access the services will be banned.
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The ban will also automatically apply to 150 metres around the homes of abortion staff and health professionals who provide the services.
Attorney General Yasir Naqvi cheered that all three parties worked together to pass the legislation on a sped-up timeline.
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The bill's timing had inflamed political tensions between the governing Liberals and the Opposition Progressive Conservatives. The Tories had proposed passing the bill immediately after it was introduced, with no debate or committee hearings, and the Liberals declined, which led the PCs to accuse the government of trying to draw it out, hoping it would expose divisions within the PC party.
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