Letter dated November 30, 2020 from Mayor Cumming, City of Vernon, Re: Letter of Support - No-Cost Access to all Prescription Contraception

THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF VERNON

Premier John Horgan Box 9041, STN PROV GOVT Victoria, BC V8W 9E1

Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance email: Fin.Minister@gov.bc.ca

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health PO Box 9050 ST PROV GOVT Victoria, BC V8W 9E2

Harwinder Sandhu, MLA Vernon-Monashee email: harwinder.sandhu@bcndp.ca

Council, at their Regular meeting held on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, passed the following resolution:

"WHEREAS cost is a significant barrier to people accessing contraception, particularly to people with low incomes, youth, and people from marginalized communities; and

WHEREAS providing free prescription contraception has been shown to improve health outcomes for parents and infants by reducing the risks associated with unintended pregnancy, and is likely to reduce direct medical costs on the provincial health system; and

WHEREAS contraceptive methods such as condoms or vasectomies are available at low cost, no cost, or are covered by BC's Medical Services Plan, whereas all contraceptive methods for people with uteruses (such as birth control pills, intrauterine devices, or hormone injections) have high up-front costs, making access to contraception unequal and gendered;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED

THAT the City of Vernon write to the Provincial Minister of Finance, the Provincial Minister of Health, the Premier of BC, and the local MLA supporting universal no-cost access to all prescription contraception available in BC under the Medical Services Plan; and

THAT this letter be forwarded to all BC municipalities asking to write their support as well

CARRIED."

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours truly,

Victor I. Cumming Mayor

Copy:

• Mayor & Council
• W. Pearce, CAO
• BC Municipalities