We like to think of ourselves as an enlightened society, one which accepts its people for whom they are regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, immigration status or religion.

In many respects, these conversations should be old news, but it seems to be when we swing between ultra-right, conservative or liberal governments in our elections, whether they be provincial or federal, these issues are brought back into discussions by those whose values do not support them.

Just as abortion is legal in Canada, so is one’s choice to disagree with this legality and protest its presence in society. But is abortion a woman’s right within the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?

I have done a lot of research on this issue and I have determined that the answer to this is no. But the irony in all of this is that those who don’t believe in abortion for any number of reasons, have a constitutional right to protest abortion laws as long as they do not hinder a woman’s access.

For those of us who have experienced the long, quite often back-and-forth struggle for the recognition of human rights, the choice for change has been rewarding. To see these moves toward enlightenment challenged, ostracized or put back on the table for further debate, is unsettling to say the least.

Years of struggle and protest for the benefit of the poor, disadvantaged, racially and sexually dominated and a women’s right to choose, have afforded them the right to dream of freedom, equality and the reinforcement of their inherent value as human beings.

Generations have stood for the rights of others as well as their own so the persecuted and disadvantaged can walk freely, be who they are and make choices about their minds, bodies and personal integrity, within the rule of law in Canada.

How can it be possible that rights extended by Canadian law can become subject to discussion, change or complete reversal by a change in government? How can these rights be challenged?

I am not a lawyer, but I suspect that any of the successive federal governments that have ruled since the 1988 Morgentaler decision was handed down by the Supreme Court of Canada, could have waded in and amended the Charter to reflect a woman’s constitutional right to abortion.

This likely hasn’t occurred because it would be a huge undertaking with much debate and reflection, perhaps even a referendum. It would be safe to say that no government in its right frame of mind would open such a controversy.

It is my opinion that the status quo will continue to provide the path of least resistance for any centre or left-of-centre party to stay on, but it leaves women between a rock and a hard place as far as their reproductive choices go.

The anti-abortion movement, both within government and the grassroots, has its charter rights to protest and challenge a woman’s legal right to abortion, yet a woman does not have the charter right to choose abortion.

With democracies of the world being threatened and populism on the rise, there should be concern and we should never take for granted where we have come from and what we have achieved.

Patricia Baker is a Sault Star district correspondent and retired nurse