Access Now Nova Scotia
Coalition
Making contraception free
for Nova Scotians
Who We Are
Nova Scotians pursuing barrier free access to contraception in consideration of gender equity, best medical practices, and smart economics.
Our Goal
No cost prescription contraception for Nova Scotians.
Fundamentals
- Access to contraception is recognized as a basic human right but unfortunately, many Nova Scotians can’t access this right due to financial barriers; this becomes an equity issue as the cost of birth control falls disproportionately on women and people who can get pregnant.
- Programs that offer free birth control have been shown to be revenue positive; the cost of providing free birth control is considerably lower than the costs associated with unintended pregnancy; for every $1 spent on contraceptive support, there can be as much as $90 in public expenditures on social supports; the BC Government predicts to save as much as $27 million annually.
- Our current patchwork system of birth control coverage is not comprehensive and not sustainable; current pharmacare deductibles are cost prohibitive; many Nova Scotians have inadequate or no coverage.
- Best medical practice indicates that providing contraceptive choice without barriers is fundamental to the overall health and wellbeing of patients; unintended pregnancies can have significant negative impacts on the physical, emotional, and socioeconomic lives of patients, their families, and their communities.
Events
Access Now Nova Scotia is pleased to partner with Maritime Pharmacists for No-Cost Contraception.
April 16, 2025
Co-Leads, Kari Ellen Graham and Danny Allain, have been meeting with Maritime Premiers and Ministers of Health to advocate for smart and efficient implementation. See their letter and press release here.
Previous Events
International Women's Day, March 8, 2025
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Access Now Nova Scotia members served as panelists at the Halifax Sexual Health Centre advocacy event February 15, 2025.
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We loved this engaged group at Acadia University September 14th! Dr. Andrea Mossman and Katie Rennie were inspiring speakers. Thank you to everyone who attended.
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Access Now was represented at a rally during the 2024 Summer Meetings of Canadian Premiers in Halifax on July 16th.
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Meeting with Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
May 24th, 2024
Amazing opportunity to discuss both federal and provincial advocacy efforts with our Prime Minister.
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Information Session, St FX University
Jan 11th, 2024
A great event hosting smart and diverse guest speakers including:
Dr. Rupinder Toor
Dr. Julie Vermeer
Susie Doucet
Alicia Teasdale
Thanks to all those who attended and continue to advocate for this worthy cause!
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Campaign Launch, Dalhousie University
Sept 26th, 2023
Thanks to everyone who attended! What a wonderful turnout with such an engaged and enthusiastic audience. We will take your energy forward as we endeavor to make our cause a reality.
All are welcome to join our Coalition and as well please send a letter to your local MLA by clicking the link above.
Current Members
Kari Ellen Graham
Founder/Co-Chair, Access Now NS
Primary Care Clinical Pharmacist
Katie Rennie-DesChamp
Co-Chair, Access Now NS
Dr. Martha Paynter
Assistant Professor (Nursing)
University of New Brunswick
Anja McLeod
MA Student
Dalhousie University
Clare Heggie
PHD Student
University of New Brunswick
Claudia Chender
Leader of NS NDP
Grace Szucs
Constituency Assistant
Government of Nova Scotia
Stella Samuels
Executive Director,
Sexual Health Nova Scotia
Haileigh MacLeod
President Dalhousie University Nursing Society
Vanessa Walker
Executive Director, Cape Breton Centre for Sexual Health
Dr. Britney Benoit
Assistant Professor (Nursing)
St. Francis Xavier University
Alexandra Rose
Coordinator, NS Health Coalition
Vanessa Walker
Executive Director, CB Centre for Sexual Health
Kaitlin Strugnell
Pharmacy Student
Dalhousie University
Sophie McKenzie
Pharmacy Student
Dalhousie University
Dr. Julie Vermeer
Obstetrics/Gynecology
St.Martha's Regional Hospital
Alicia Teasdale
Co-owner and Director of Operations
Teasdale apothecary
Lauren Mills
Dalhousie University Medicine and Government Affairs Representative
Dr. Melissa Brooks
Assistant Professor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dalhousie University
Elizabeth Corkum
Social Worker
Child and Family Wellbeing, DCS
Abbey Ferguson
Executive Director
Halifax Sexual Health Centre
Dr. Leisha Hawker
Past President of Doctors NS; Physician: North End Community Health Centre and Newcomers Clinic
Dr. Christine Saulnier
Canadian Centre for Policy
Alternatives - Nova Scotia
Natasha Hines
RN Clinical Director
Wellness Within
Kelty Moser
Executive Director
Sheet Harbour Sexual Health Centre
Jenny Rand
Sexual Health Nova Scotia Board Chair and Academic
Ann De Ste Croix
Provincial Coordinator
Transition House Association of NS
Hailey VanDuinkerken
Pharmacy Student
Dalhousie University
Hannah Creene
Pharmacy Student
Dalhousie University
Kim MacDonald
Procurement Services
St Francis Xavier University
Susie Doucet
Community Outreach Facilitator
Antigonish Women's Resource Centre
Alison Graham
Councillor
Town of Truro, Nova Scotia
Kristina Fifield
Avalon Sexual Health Centre, Halifax
Emma Halpern
Executive Director
Elizabeth Fry Society Mainland Nova Scotia
Sharelyn Stone
Executive Director
Chebucto Family Centre
Tara Downey
Social Worker
North End Community Health Centre
Dr. Sarah Rodimon
Executive Director
Avalon Sexual Assault Centre
Dr. James Bentley
Department Head
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dalhousie University
Dr. Andrew Lynk
Department Head
Pediatrics, Dalhousie University
Julie Veinot
Executive Director
South Shore Sexual Health
Lauren Matheson
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Nova Scotia
Dr. Rhea MacDonald
Family and Emergency Medicine
Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital
Shelley Amyotte
National Communications Representative
Unifor
Melanie Dunlop
President, Nurse Practitioner Association of NS
April Negus
Nurse Practitioner Association of NS
In The News
CBC Radio: Maritime coalition of pharmacists advocating for no-cost contraception [March 6, 2025]
N.S. endometriosis patients urge province to introduce free birth control [August 10, 2024]
CityNews 95.7: Listen to Kari Ellen Graham interviewed on The Todd Veinotte Show [March 19, 2024]
N.S. clinic will no longer offer free contraceptive devices as funding runs out [March 8, 2024]
Nova Scotia should cover the cost of prescription contraception [February 12, 2024]
CBC News Information Morning NS [December 4, 2023]
CTV Morning Live Atlantic: CTV News Broadcast [October 12, 2023]
Group calls for free birth control in Nova Scotia: CBC Radio and CBC media [October 7, 2023]
Les cliniques en pharmacie de la N.-É. semblent être un succès [October 6, 2023]
Supporting Organizations
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dalhousie University
Department of Pediatrics,
Dalhousie University
Gender Affirming Care NS
Photos
Located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq. We are all Treaty people.