Abortion numbers released

Interim Staff

Statistics Canada released the 2005 abortion numbers on May 21 and they revealed that surgical abortions declined 3.2 per cent from 2004 to 96,815 abortions nation-wide.

The abortion rate edged down from 14.6 for every 1,000 women of child-bearing age (15-44) to 14.1. The rate declined for all age groups except 35-39 year olds, which remained the same.

Campaign Life Coalition national organizer Mary Ellen Douglas acknowledged the decrease, but noted that nearly 97,000 abortions was still an intolerable number.

The numbers include all induced (surgical) abortions committed in hospitals and private facilities, not including private abortion mills in Manitoba, nor does it include Canadian women procuring abortions in the United States.