An example of an unregulated crisis pregnancy centre in Minnesota. Photo by Brianne/Flickr.

Should organizations serving pregnant people be allowed to use disinformation and pressure to prevent them from accessing abortion care? About 160 unregulated pregnancy centres (UPCs) operate across Canada, mostly in smaller communities with no abortion services. UPCs are anti-abortion organizations that often operate under the guise of clinics or counselling centres. Stories collected from individuals who visited UPCs reveal how they cause lasting harm through deception, disinformation, and other traumatizing strategies meant to turn people away from abortion. This begs the question: why are these centres allowed to operate with no oversight?

Pregnant people, like all people, should have access to accurate health care information so that they can make informed decisions. In fact, timely access to quality patient-centred health care is vital to reduce physical and mental health risks during pregnancy. UPCs, however, often self-advertise as providing health services to pregnant people without revealing their anti-abortion mandate. For example, one individual in British Columbia saw a bus advertisement which simply asked, “Pregnant? Need help?” Upon visiting the UPC, this person received no information about abortion services. Rather, the UPC promoted adoption and pushed parenting support to........

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