B.C. will be the first province to offer free birth control to its residents in April
A new poll from a Calgary public relations firm shows that a large majority of Albertans like the idea of the government giving everyone free birth control.
CBC got the poll from ThinkHQ, a public relations and opinion research firm in Alberta that works with the government and with the public. It found that 74% of Albertans who were polled like the idea of free birth control on prescription, while only 18% don’t.
British Columbia will soon be the first place in Canada where residents won’t have to pay for birth control that they need to get from a doctor. From April 1, the province will pay for oral hormone pills (also called “the pill”), injections, implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and the morning-after pill.
Marc Henry, the president of ThinkHQ, said that he was surprised by the amount of support shown by the poll results.
“It is hard to believe that three-quarters of a population can agree on any public policy in today’s world. It has a lot of fans in Alberta, “Henry said.
He also said that most people of all ages and from all parts of the province agree with the idea.
WATCH: Premier Danielle Smith’s answer to the Alberta NDP’s plan to make birth control more expensive:
Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notleysaid earlier in MarchIf she became prime minister, her government would also pay for birth control. She said it will save Albertans money, help stop unintended pregnancies, and give women more control over their lives and economic futures.
Danielle Smith, the Premier of Alberta, said that Albertans who are enrolled in government-sponsored drug and supplemental health benefits can get birth control.
“Private plans cover the vast majority of prescription drugs,” Smith said.
Lori Williams, an associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University, agreed that it is rare for such a diverse group of people to agree on something like what the poll showed.
“Some people think this is a problem that only affects half of the population, but of course it affects families and people trying to get medication,” she said.
She also said that birth control can be used to treat a wide range of health problems and that it is often quite pricey. Most birth control pills cost $20 a month, while an IUD can cost up to $500.
Albertans are expected to vote next month. Williams said that recent polling shows that voters in the province care most about health care and affordability.
“If these continue to be the most important issues, it will come down to which party, which leader, and which vision are seen as the most trustworthy and likely to get the job done.”
More than 1,100 people were asked online for the poll. The sample is weighted to match the population of Alberta in terms of gender, age, and location. It has a margin of error of about 3% 19 times out of 20.