Of the many news stories that have recently frequented the media, the topic of reproductive rights has been one of the most prominent. From the overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States this past summer to the public debate over whether women, transgender, and non-binary individuals have the right to have autonomy over their own bodies, many of these recent updates have been a retrogression of crucial healthcare rights that should have been protected long ago, in conjunction with other sectors of healthcare. While the government has increased access to other sectors of healthcare, reproductive healthcare continues to face stigma and attacks, contributing to an unjust lack of progress. The Canadian government has the ability to lessen that inequality, and with the progression seen in British Columbia’s provincial budget to allocate money to contraceptive prescription, one can only hope the rest of the provinces and territories will follow.
On February 28th, 2023, British Columbia’s provincial budget was released. One of the most striking features of the new budget is the inclusion of free prescription contraception for women, transgender, and nonbinary individuals. As of April 1st, numerous prescription contraceptives will be free for BC residents, including both copper and hormonal IUDs, hormone injections and implants, oral contraceptives (best known as “the pill”), and emergency oral contraceptives, such as Plan-B and Contingency One. Contraceptives are necessary for most women, as 90% of women between the ages of 18-64 have used a contraceptive at one point during their reproductive years, and 75% of Canadian women have taken oral contraceptives at one point in their lives. Further, in a study conducted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it was found that 20% of transgender men and 36% of transgender women have used contraception at one point in their lives as well, demonstrating that this new feature can aid citizens regardless of their gender. As there are already high costs associated with reproductive-related health, such as menstrual cycles and prenatal care, this allocation of the province’s budget towards free prescription contraception will change thousands of lives by further reducing the financial barrier to accessing contraceptives. Oral contraceptives have an annual cost of $240-$600 without insurance, with reportedly one in five uninsured individuals stopping their usage of birth control because of financial difficulties.
British Columbia’s Finance Minister Katrine Conroy stated during her BC Legislature speech, “this is a win for health and it’s a win for gender equity in our province. And it’s about time. The days of passing down these costs to women, trans and non-binary people are coming to an end.” Indeed, free, accessible prescription contraception covered by PharmaCare is a huge step in the right direction. Given that access to free contraceptives will reportedly save individuals over $10,000 in their lifetime, this decision indicates that BC is prioritizing accommodating citizens’ varying medical needs with their annual budget. Further, this minimizes the gender gap that is often prevalent within the healthcare industry by increasing accessibility. While many European countries including France and Spain offer free or subsidized contraceptives, in many scenarios they are only available to teenagers and young adults under the age of 25. However, access to contraceptives is a lifelong obligation for many, and much like England’s policy where the NHS provides free prescription contraception to UK citizens, British Columbia’s newest changes ensure that no matter their age, all individuals are able to receive the necessary healthcare access. Further, apart from age and financial barriers, free contraception allows individuals to make proper health-related decisions for themselves and for their futures, including family planning decisions.
As a British Columbian resident, I’m proud that our provincial government has acknowledged the importance of free, accessible contraceptive healthcare. This decision by the provincial government will change thousands of lives, as contraception is a basic right and should be a standard part of healthcare. However, my heart hurts for the women, transgender, and nonbinary individuals across Canada who may be facing financial and accessibility barriers and do not get to invoke this same right simultaneously, and I hope that similar legislation at the Federal Level will soon follow. Canada has the power to set a worldwide precedent and follow the footsteps of nations such as England and Spain, who have already paved the way in their budgets to allocate money to increase the accessibility of contraceptives. With such uncertainty surrounding the future of reproductive rights, this is certainly a win and shouldn’t be celebrated as anything less. However, until every single individual attending this university can say the same for their hometowns, the fight for necessary healthcare rights isn’t over.
Edited by Rebecca Bennett
Mayah Esmail is a U2 student at McGill University pursuing a major in Economics and a minor in Psychology. She is originally from Vancouver, BC, and her interests vary from economic policies, feminism, and socio-cultural issues.