Contraception should be universally free, says the City of Vernon – and District of Sechelt council agrees.
Sechelt council is supporting an effort by Vernon council to make prescription contraception free in B.C.
While birth control pills, IUDs and hormone injections are usually purchased up front, condoms and vasectomies are easily available at low or no cost and covered by B.C.’s Medical Services Plan, according to a letter from Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming.
Vernon’s council has asked for the support of other municipalities in their efforts to make prescription contraception free for everyone, and has written to B.C.’s ministries of health and finance, Premier John Horgan as well as their MLA requesting the change.
Sechelt council received and gave their support to the effort during a regular council meeting on Feb. 17.
“I think it would be a fairly easy thing for this council to vote to send a letter of support for this initiative,” said Coun. Alton Toth, prior to the unanimous vote to send a letter of support.
In 2019, School District No. 46 followed a ministerial order that required schools to provide menstrual products for free in school washrooms.
