Questions to be asked about P.E.I. abortion clinic, says Trudeau

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau thinks Prince Edward Islanders should be asking questions to make sure the Canada Health Act is being respected in regards to a recent decision to cut short planning for an abortion clinic on the Island.

CBC News, in a story published Monday, revealed the order to stop planning for the clinic came directly from Health Minister Doug Currie, despite a draft business case showing providing abortion services on the Island would save the province money. A local clinic would also mean patients would no longer have to travel to Halifax.

"I think people are going to be rightly asking questions to make sure the Canada Health Act is being respected, and that Canadians have the opportunity to make choices about their own reproductive health," said Trudeau.

Trudeau noted that different regions, particularly small ones, have particular challenges, and he trusts local governments to provide access to reproductive health services.

Currie has refused repeated requests from CBC for an interview to fully explain the province's position on a local abortion clinic.