Letters & Articles from Archbishop Weisgerber

Letter to Manitoba's Minister of Health

February 5, 2001

The Honourable David W. Chomiak
Minister of Health
Legislative Building
450 Broadway Avenue
WINNIPEG, Manitoba R3C 0V8

Dear Mr. Chomiak,

I write to you today on a matter of great importance, that is the funding of abortion procedures in the Morgentaler Clinic in Winnipeg.

I know that you are aware that many citizens of Manitoba have a deep, principled opposition to abortion. Many of these citizens object strongly to the use of their tax dollars to fund a procedure which they deem to be morally offensive.

When the Supreme Court weighed in on this matter in 1988, striking down federal legislation, it did so for procedural reasons. The Court did not decide that there is a constitutional right to have an abortion or that governments have an obligation to provide abortion services. In fact, in my understanding, it is the provincial Department of Health which determines which services are insurable as medically necessary. I understand that the various provincial health insurance plans already do not cover many procedures such as cosmetic surgery and those associated with the new reproductive technologies.

It is laudable to observe the federal Department of Health taking a strong stand in respect to services provided by private clinics as in the Province of Alberta. It is difficult to understand why the same department would pressure provincial jurisdictions to provide abortion services in private clinics. Am I missing something?

May I, as a Church leader and as a taxpayer, request that the views of all Manitobans be taken into account as you address this important issue.

Respectfully yours,

+ V. James Weisgerber
Archbishop of Winnipeg

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