The head of a Fredericton-based anti-abortion group says his organization will oppose any attempt to limit protests outside the
Morgentaler Clinic on Brunswick Street.

Peter Ryan, executive director of the New Brunswick Right to Life Association, said he'll be in contact with Justice Minister T.J.
Burke to ensure the right to free speech isn't stifled.

Ryan was reacting to statements Burke made last week that he will look into a request to create a special access zone around the
abortion clinic. Such a zone would prevent protesters from blocking access to the clinic.

It would apply to any facilities providing abortion services, doctors' residences, service providers and doctors' offices in New
Brunswick.

"It's the repression of peaceful dissent. We live in a democratic society. It's normal on an issue like abortion that there are
different views."

Ryan said protests outside the abortion clinic aren't a safety concern. He said protests are relatively quiet.

He said protesters pray silently and hold up signs with messages such as "Choose Life" or "Let babies Live."

"We think that in a fair and democratic society, this should not be repressed," he said.

The request for the no-protest zones was made last week by the National Abortion Federation, the New Brunswick Advisory
Council on the Status of Women and the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada.

Judy Burwell, a former manager of the Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton and a spokesperson for the Abortion Rights Coalition
of Canada, said this isn't a case of limiting rights.

"We're not out to stifle anyone's free speech," she said.

The request, she said, is one aimed at protecting the women and staff members going to the clinic.

"It's very intimidating to be met with people with signs and yelling at you," she said.

On Monday, each side accused the other of being responsible for accosting each other and the women going to the clinic
for abortions and undertaking strong-arm tactics.

Burwell said it only makes sense for the province to create the zone because it's keeping secret the names of doctors and
hospitals where publicly funded abortion services are performed.

"It's interesting because the province has made it clear that they have a concern for doctors and staff who do abortion
procedures because they will not publish the names or the locations of the two hospitals that are now doing abortions, and
they made that very clear that they weren't going to do that to protect their identity," Burwell said.

"We don't have that protection."

Ryan said they'll continue to make silent protest and press the government to maintain the right to protest.

Ryan also offered his version of what happened when police were called to the clinic earlier this year. Abortion-rights
advocates have pointed to the incident as a reason for more security.

Ryan said a protester was merely retrieving a hat that had blown off.