Liberals look to fill Trump funding gap, but are urged to raise aid spending
OTTAWA — The federal government is pledging up to $20 million to fund sexual health and abortion-related projects as part of an international campaign to fill a gap created by President Donald Trump’s decision to ban U.S. funding for abortion-related programs.
The money will go to five organizations, including the International Planned Parenthood Federation, and be spent in the coming 12 months on contraceptives, family planning and comprehensive sexuality education, abortion services where they are legal and access to post-abortion care.
International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said funding sexual education and abortion where it is legal is a matter of human rights.
“The idea is really to give women the choice,” Bibeau told reporters in a conference call from Brussels. “We’re not forcing anyone into it.