Safe zones will be created around abortion clinics so that women can access the procedure without harassment, the Ontario government announced Monday.

In legislation to be introduced this fall, the province will follow the lead of others such as British Columbia, Newfoundland and Quebec, which have rules in place. Violators there can be fined or sent to prison.

“Over the last month or so, I’ve seen some serious instances of intimidation, harassment and even assault towards women who are trying to access abortion services and other reproductive health services at a clinic in Ottawa. That is unacceptable,” Attorney General Yasir Naqvi told reporters at Queen’s Park.

“In our province, we need to make sure that we have protections in place for women to be able to choose, in a safe manner, health-care services — not only the women who need those very important services, but also the staff who work at these clinics.”

The new law would create “safe access zones,” but Naqvi said specifics will be released after the government has heard from different health and legal groups.

While some facilities have previously been granted court injunctions to keep protesters at bay, the issue has recently escalated in Ottawa, where patients at the Morgentaler Clinic in Naqvi’s riding have had to face protesters carrying grotesque signs, yelling and intimidating them as they enter.

The Ottawa Citizen reported one instance in which a couple, whose fetus had already died, were spit upon as they went into the clinic because it was faster than waiting in hospital.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson had been urging the province to act.

“For many years, people seeking reproductive services at clinics across Ontario have been subjected to escalating hostility and aggression — adding tremendous stress to what may be an already difficult time in their lives. I welcome any government action that could give peace of mind to these folks and the people who care for them,” said Catherine Macnab, who is head of Planned Parenthood Ottawa.

Naqvi said “targeted consultations” will take place all summer with health-care and advocacy groups, “to make sure that we have a strong piece of legislation, legislation that balances the rights that women have in terms of choosing safe access to health care but also the right of freedom of speech.”

He said it’s important that there are “consistent protections” across the province.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the legislation “is something that I think has been a long time coming” and wondered why the Liberals have not acted sooner.

“There have been hundreds, if not thousands, of women who have been facing all kinds of negativity and abuse trying to access a completely legal service, and one they have a right to,” she said. “There’s no way this should be happening in Ontario.”

She said if injunctions were granted as far back as 1994, “why does it take until 2017 to include the Ottawa clinic?”

Tory MPP Steve Clark said his daughter lives in Ottawa, “and she walks right by the clinic all the time. I think you have to deal with the people’s right to have a peaceful protest, versus public safety.

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“So I look forward to the minister tabling that legislation and I know we’ll be watching it; it’s of concern as well,” said Clark, his party’s deputy leader.

In New Brunswick, an injunction was recently granted by the courts preventing an anti-abortion group from protesting outside a hospital.

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