The public debate over prescriptions for contraceptives has died down a bit after the Ministry Of Health and Wellness decided to hold off for a year on the enforcement of prescription regulations.
But, when those regulations do go into effect with schtick enforcement, will provisions be made so female employees can have time off to go and see a doctor for their prescription for birth control? Here's how the labour minister answered.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Labour
"You know you are bringing back the birth control argument. I think the Ministry of Health made the right decision in shelving that hopefully longer than a year. It is going to be a review process but yes those are the kinds of questions that will need to be answered by the ministry and the labor department in terms of offering time off to the doctor to get your prescription yes but that is not right now so hopefully that is not something we will have to do."
Reporter-
"So you don't support the requirement?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Labour
"I hear the argument from the professionals the healthcare professionals but I prefer to hear the argument of the women who it affects and they have said loud and clear and resoundingly that they understand their bodies better than any man can. So I won't even attempt to understand it because I am not an expert, neither am I a healthcare professional expert but at the end of the day I think we have to listen to our women."
