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2026
31 MAR 2026 – Proposed law to expand midwives' scope of practice, boost recruitment (CBC)
"In terms of what’s next for the practice of midwifery in the province, Dornan said his government would like to expand the service to other communities. The Fredericton Midwifery Centre opened in 2017 and offers care to patients within a 60-minute drive. Despite plans for expanding care, the capital remains the only place in the province offering this care."
18 MAR 2026 – Amendments aim to expand midwives’ roles and support training / Des modifications visent à élargir les rôles des sages-femmes et à soutenir la formation (GNB)
“As the regulator, our job is to protect the public,” said Kandise Brown, the council’s executive director and registrar. “Updating the Midwifery Act helps ensure midwives can do the job they’re trained to do while strengthening public oversight and expanding care options for New Brunswickers.”
11 MAR 2026 – New central phone service to support self-referral for abortion services / Services d’avortement : nouveau service téléphonique centralisé pour appuyer l’auto-aiguillage (GNB)
"New Brunswickers can now call a centralized, self-referral phone line to navigate abortion services and get timely access to appointment bookings. [...] People can access the toll-free service by calling 1-844-806-9205. They may be asked to leave a voicemail and will receive a callback during operating hours (8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday)."
6 MAR 2026 – Ottawa announces $5.4M for 5 sexual and reproductive health organizations (CBC)
"According to Health Canada, funding for the Canadian Association of Midwives will help develop resources for abortion and postpartum services, contraception and gender-inclusive care for midwives."
6 MAR 2026 – Questions remain about billing for primary care ahead of April 1 deadline (CBC)
"The Canada Health Act will expand on April 1 to include primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives, so patients aren’t paying out of pocket for care. It’s just not clear yet what that will look like in New Brunswick or in the rest of Canada."
16 FEB 2026 – Midwifery stalled in New Brunswick, despite promise of expanded service (CBC)
"As president of the Midwives Association of New Brunswick, Ursula Rinne promotes the expansion of the service, but that hasn’t happened and the Fredericton clinic remains the only one in the province. She can’t say exactly how many people are on the waitlist for a midwife, but says there’s a constant flow of inquiries from across the province. And with now just three midwives working at the clinic in Fredericton, the small team can’t even meet the local demand. 'From waitlist numbers in the past … we’re not meeting the needs of those within the radius,' said Rinne."
12 FEB 2026 – Health workforce in Canada: Overview (CIHI)
"Women represented more than 75% of selected health care professionals in Canada in 2024.
5 FEB 2026 – Results from the Parental Experiences Survey (Statistics Canada)
"Statistics Canada released the results of the 2024 Parental Experiences Survey (PES), providing new national data on access to postpartum and perinatal mental health care among mothers and birthing parents. These findings aim to better understand the postpartum experiences of mothers and birthing parents, offering a clearer picture of access to care, emotional well-being and support systems during a critical period of transition.
"In terms of what’s next for the practice of midwifery in the province, Dornan said his government would like to expand the service to other communities. The Fredericton Midwifery Centre opened in 2017 and offers care to patients within a 60-minute drive. Despite plans for expanding care, the capital remains the only place in the province offering this care."
18 MAR 2026 – Amendments aim to expand midwives’ roles and support training / Des modifications visent à élargir les rôles des sages-femmes et à soutenir la formation (GNB)
“As the regulator, our job is to protect the public,” said Kandise Brown, the council’s executive director and registrar. “Updating the Midwifery Act helps ensure midwives can do the job they’re trained to do while strengthening public oversight and expanding care options for New Brunswickers.”
11 MAR 2026 – New central phone service to support self-referral for abortion services / Services d’avortement : nouveau service téléphonique centralisé pour appuyer l’auto-aiguillage (GNB)
"New Brunswickers can now call a centralized, self-referral phone line to navigate abortion services and get timely access to appointment bookings. [...] People can access the toll-free service by calling 1-844-806-9205. They may be asked to leave a voicemail and will receive a callback during operating hours (8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday)."
6 MAR 2026 – Ottawa announces $5.4M for 5 sexual and reproductive health organizations (CBC)
"According to Health Canada, funding for the Canadian Association of Midwives will help develop resources for abortion and postpartum services, contraception and gender-inclusive care for midwives."
6 MAR 2026 – Questions remain about billing for primary care ahead of April 1 deadline (CBC)
"The Canada Health Act will expand on April 1 to include primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives, so patients aren’t paying out of pocket for care. It’s just not clear yet what that will look like in New Brunswick or in the rest of Canada."
16 FEB 2026 – Midwifery stalled in New Brunswick, despite promise of expanded service (CBC)
"As president of the Midwives Association of New Brunswick, Ursula Rinne promotes the expansion of the service, but that hasn’t happened and the Fredericton clinic remains the only one in the province. She can’t say exactly how many people are on the waitlist for a midwife, but says there’s a constant flow of inquiries from across the province. And with now just three midwives working at the clinic in Fredericton, the small team can’t even meet the local demand. 'From waitlist numbers in the past … we’re not meeting the needs of those within the radius,' said Rinne."
12 FEB 2026 – Health workforce in Canada: Overview (CIHI)
"Women represented more than 75% of selected health care professionals in Canada in 2024.
- Women represented more than 95% of the total supply for midwives (99%), dental assistants (98%) and dietitians (96%)."
5 FEB 2026 – Results from the Parental Experiences Survey (Statistics Canada)
"Statistics Canada released the results of the 2024 Parental Experiences Survey (PES), providing new national data on access to postpartum and perinatal mental health care among mothers and birthing parents. These findings aim to better understand the postpartum experiences of mothers and birthing parents, offering a clearer picture of access to care, emotional well-being and support systems during a critical period of transition.
- In 2024, nearly nine in ten mothers and birthing parents in Canada (87%) reported having access to a regular health care provider postpartum. At the same time, 13% experienced at least one unmet health care need after giving birth.
- Postpartum emergency department visits were more commonly reported among younger mothers and birthing parents aged 15 to 24 (25%). Provincially, emergency visits were highest in the Atlantic provinces (24%) and Manitoba (21%).
- In 2024, nearly half of mothers and birthing parents (49%) reported experiencing emotional or mental health challenges. Among those affected, 60% said these challenges began after childbirth, 25% during pregnancy, and 15% before pregnancy.
- More than one third (36%) of mothers and birthing parents with mental health challenges reported receiving help from a professional with their emotional or mental health. Recent immigrants were less likely to do so (24%)."
2025
13 DEC 2025 – Rising use of unregulated birth attendants raises red flags (Toronto Star)
"But the choice to give birth without a medical professional carries risk. An Ontario panel of coroners found an “unexpected cluster” of stillbirths among people choosing not to have midwives or doctors attend their births. Most of the deaths the committee investigated involved a non-medical birth attendant. Authorities across the country have issued warnings to the public about hiring these unregulated attendants, and in some cases taken legal action."
22 NOV 2025 – Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world (The Guardian)
"Soo Downe, a British midwife and professor at the University of Lancashire, says the prevalence of freebirthing, while low, appears to be increasing across the world as women lose trust in professional maternity services. It is a dynamic that is especially acute in the US, which has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among wealthy countries in the world."
"But the choice to give birth without a medical professional carries risk. An Ontario panel of coroners found an “unexpected cluster” of stillbirths among people choosing not to have midwives or doctors attend their births. Most of the deaths the committee investigated involved a non-medical birth attendant. Authorities across the country have issued warnings to the public about hiring these unregulated attendants, and in some cases taken legal action."
22 NOV 2025 – Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world (The Guardian)
"Soo Downe, a British midwife and professor at the University of Lancashire, says the prevalence of freebirthing, while low, appears to be increasing across the world as women lose trust in professional maternity services. It is a dynamic that is especially acute in the US, which has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among wealthy countries in the world."
2024
11 OCT 2024 – Free birth control, more midwives: Liberals unveil women’s health-care plan (CBC)
"Leader Susan Holt said the Liberal Party would sign an agreement with the federal government to give New Brunswickers free access to contraception if elected. Other women’s health-care measures would include at-home pap tests and free rounds of IVF."
29 JUN 2024 – Rising maternal deaths deserve attention in N.B. and other provinces, say obstetricians (CBC)
"The former head of perinatal care in New Brunswick and current president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada is calling on provinces, including New Brunswick, to do a better job of tracking maternal mortality."
"Leader Susan Holt said the Liberal Party would sign an agreement with the federal government to give New Brunswickers free access to contraception if elected. Other women’s health-care measures would include at-home pap tests and free rounds of IVF."
29 JUN 2024 – Rising maternal deaths deserve attention in N.B. and other provinces, say obstetricians (CBC)
"The former head of perinatal care in New Brunswick and current president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada is calling on provinces, including New Brunswick, to do a better job of tracking maternal mortality."
2023
6 SEP 2023 – No action on report calling for expansion of N.B. midwifery services, committee hears (Global)
"There are six registered midwives in the province, with four of them actively practising out of the Fredericton clinic. That clinic only takes patients within an hour of Fredericton, taking on 100 people last year, while 250 were turned away. Midwifery services are covered by Medicare and involve both prenatal and postpartum care. From the pilot program’s launch in 2017 to June of 2021 there were a total of 271 midwifery-attended births."
23 MAY 2023 – Groups call for midwifery training in Atlantic Canada (CBC)
"There is currently no formal midwifery training program in Atlantic Canada."
"There are six registered midwives in the province, with four of them actively practising out of the Fredericton clinic. That clinic only takes patients within an hour of Fredericton, taking on 100 people last year, while 250 were turned away. Midwifery services are covered by Medicare and involve both prenatal and postpartum care. From the pilot program’s launch in 2017 to June of 2021 there were a total of 271 midwifery-attended births."
23 MAY 2023 – Groups call for midwifery training in Atlantic Canada (CBC)
"There is currently no formal midwifery training program in Atlantic Canada."
2022
27 AUG 2022 – Pilick celebrates 1st community at-home birth in 85 years (CBC)
"His mother, Keyaira Gruben, said she chose to have an at-home birth because she wanted to feel culturally safe. 'We got to celebrate [this] birth in such a beautiful way,' said Gruben, 27. She said her grandmother told her it was the first at-home birth in their community in 85 years. [...] She said by choosing an at-home birth, she had all the supports she needed. She worked with two midwives throughout her pregnancy. The community also came together to light a sacred fire for the ceremony, sun dancers came to help drum Truth into the world, and Gruben was guided through ceremony by Opolahsomuwehes, who also led a pipe ceremony."
5 MAR 2022 – Unable to meet demand, New Brunswick midwives call for greater access to service (CBC)
"Even within their jurisdiction, though, midwives say they can't meet the demand. Brittany Stairs, president of the New Brunswick Midwives Association, said she's been told the province's evaluation, results of which will be released mid-2022, is the first step in determining what happens with the midwifery program, and she's hopeful it'll lead to expansion."
"His mother, Keyaira Gruben, said she chose to have an at-home birth because she wanted to feel culturally safe. 'We got to celebrate [this] birth in such a beautiful way,' said Gruben, 27. She said her grandmother told her it was the first at-home birth in their community in 85 years. [...] She said by choosing an at-home birth, she had all the supports she needed. She worked with two midwives throughout her pregnancy. The community also came together to light a sacred fire for the ceremony, sun dancers came to help drum Truth into the world, and Gruben was guided through ceremony by Opolahsomuwehes, who also led a pipe ceremony."
5 MAR 2022 – Unable to meet demand, New Brunswick midwives call for greater access to service (CBC)
"Even within their jurisdiction, though, midwives say they can't meet the demand. Brittany Stairs, president of the New Brunswick Midwives Association, said she's been told the province's evaluation, results of which will be released mid-2022, is the first step in determining what happens with the midwifery program, and she's hopeful it'll lead to expansion."
Images courtesy of Under The Willow Tree Photography