Strong reaction in Ottawa to leaked Roe v. Wade draft
It's a decision in the United States many in Canada are watching closely.
A leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion obtained by Politico suggests the justices are set to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that guarantees the right to abortion across the U.S.
"Very upsetting. It's just shocking," said Morrisburg mom Christine Martin, who had an abortion a few years ago.
"I was in a bad situation and it really brought me back to that place where it was like, what would've happened if I wouldn't have been able to do that? Where would my life be at?"
Martin said she's grateful she had a choice.
"I used to be anti-abortion. As a teenager, it was always like, 'If I get pregnant, I'm going to have a baby,'" she said. "And then it came to me and I had to make that choice, and I did, and I'm happy I did, and I'm happy I had that choice. It's frightening and terrifying to think about women in the states, that they won't have that choice."
Supreme Court Justices can still change their votes and a ruling is only final when it is published by the court, which is expected this summer.
If the decision were overturned, each individual state would be able to decide whether to ban abortion. About half of them have already signalled they would.
Anti-abortion activists rejoiced.
"We're going to start to see, I predict, a culture change in Canada to become slightly more pro-life and we'll see that continue for years if that does happen in the United States," said Jack Fonseca with the Campaign Life Coalition.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman says the implications could be far-reaching.
"This is just the beginning because the basis in which they're looking at this could be then applied to gay marriage, it could be applied to contraception, it could be applied to inter-racial marriage, it could be applied to gun votes, gun rights, it could be applied to so many different things. As a result of that, voting, voting, voting is going make a big difference here," Heyman said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.