The midwife-client relationship is extraordinarily personal, and women are entitled to choose the care provider who will provide the best alignment with their personal priorities for prenatal, birth, and postnatal care.

We, the undersigned, request that the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care not restrict a woman’s right to choose a healthcare provider. Specifically, we request that the Ministry use midwifery catchment areas only as an administrative tool to determine that adequate services exist in all areas of Ontario. Catchment areas should not be enforced as a restrictive measure to limit the options of women to specific practices based on civic address. Further, the Ministry should not require that women justify their choice of health care providers should they choose a provider outside the Ministry defined catchment areas.