On May 18, 1992, the clinic of Dr. Henry Morgentaler in Toronto, where abortions are performed, was blown up by the bomb. This event is an episode in the long battle between opponents and supporters of voluntary pregnancy termination in Canada.
” Doctor Henry Morgentaler blames opponents of abortion for the explosion that ruined his clinic in Toronto early this morning. “
An attack in Toronto
This morning of May 18, 1992, as the report of journalist Marc-André Masson presented in Newscastthe Toronto clinic of Dr. Morgentaler is a field of ruins.
The area was so badly damaged that firefighters refused to venture there for fear that the building would collapse.
The possibility of an accident caused by a gas leak was ruled out.
Investigating police officers believe instead it is on a criminal path that they should focus on.
All the controversy surrounding the existence of Dr.’s clinic. Morgentaler is urging police to favor the hypothesis of a criminal act.
Doctor Morgentaler shared the police opinion
Behind this explosion hides the desire of pro-life activists to end the clinic’s activities.
Henry Morgentaler in the report describes these militants as reactionary elements, religious fanatics, who oppose women’s rights.
In recent years, the pro-life movement has lost several legal battles in an attempt to ban abortion in Canada.
The Toronto clinic of Dr. Morgentaler is seen as a symbol of these defeats.
Legal and constitutional battle
Let’s go back 10 years.
As shown in this report by journalist Rachel Verdon, featured on the program First page, on November 23, 1982, and led by Louis Martin, Doctor Henry Morgentaler left on a crusade in Toronto.
A pro-choice activist for the right to abortion since the late 1960s, the doctor is outraged.
You can have an abortion in Toronto and Ontario, but access to this procedure is limited.
Doctors in Ontario who perform this work are particularly likely to be prosecuted under section 251 of the Canadian Criminal Code.
The latter requires obtaining authorization from therapeutic committees and conducting this work in a hospital.
However, at that time, in Ontario, quotas authorized by therapeutic committees were lower than demand due to the pressure exerted by the pro-life movement.
Moreover, while Jewish hospitals perform abortions, those in the Catholic faith forbid them.
Physicians may be charged with disregarding the requirements of Section 251.
The situation is more or less similar in other English Canadian provinces.
Therefore, Dr. specifically wants. Morgentaler that Ontario – and subsequently the other provinces of English Canada – to liberalize their abortion access laws, as the province of Quebec has already done.
After the broadcast of Rachel Verdon’s report in 1982, the legal context evolved and opened the door to the decriminalization of abortion in Canada.
In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada declared section 251 of the Canadian Criminal Code unconstitutional.
The decision is based on the principle that it violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, primarily because it violates the notion of women’s safety.
In 1989, judges of the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed their decision in Tremblay v. Daigle, that the fetus had no legal identity before birth.
This decision removes a heavy legal argument from the pro-life movement.
In 1990, Brian Mulroney’s government tried to re -restrict abortion in Canada.
However, his bill was rejected by the Canadian Senate.
In 1992, the clinic of Dr. Morgentaler in Toronto is completely legal.
It rebuked many pro-life activists.
A confrontation that will continue
The day after the destruction of the clinic, on May 19, 1992, as this report by journalist Marc-André Masson, presented in newspaper, and led by Bernard Derome, police confirmed the criminality of the explosion.
The reaction was strong.
Opposite the site where the attack took place, hundreds of pro-choice activists showed their support for Dr. Morgentaler.
The latter believes pro-life activists got an American professional to destroy the clinic. The doctor swears he will rebuild the latter.
However, he needed $ 250,000 to do so. The Ontario government is anticipating an announcement already planned and confirming that it will financially support Henry Morgentaler’s decision.
The Toronto bombing did nothing to bridge the gap between pro-choice supporters and pro-life activists.
Marc-André Masson even decided that the event would inspire supporters of free choice for abortion.
They will take advantage of their recent legal and political achievements to seek better access to this service in the country, the journalist believes.
Source: Radio-Canada
