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WINNIPEG, December 17, 2002 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Manitoba’s health minister says Henry Morgentaler is “too difficult to deal with,” and that the province would prefer to set up its own abortuary as part of a “multifaceted” women’s clinic, rather than take over Morgentaler’s Winnipeg branch.  “I’ve given up negotiating with him,” says Dave Chomiak after two years of on-and-off discussions. Tensions were aggravated by a lawsuit launched in 2001 by two women “forced” to go to Morgentaler’s clinic, where the province pays the doctor’s fee but the customer must pay the $500 clinic profit fee. There is reportedly a six week waiting list at the hospital compared to less than a week at Morgentaler’s outlet, which did 370 of Manitoba’s 3,000 abortions last year.  Morgentaler says he offered to hand his clinic over to the province gratis. “I will make whatever concessions [the minister] needs so women will be able to use the clinic,” he told reporters. “I don’t understand it. I’m giving up $500,000. I’m glad to say goodbye to it in the interest of the health of the women of Manitoba.”  But Chomiak released documents showing that Morgentaler wanted taxpayers to buy his equipment and furniture, pay rent for the clinic—which is in a building 50% owned by Morgentaler—and pay him a consultant’s fee during the transition.  The story is carried in the Winnipeg Free Press, Thursday Dec. 12, 2002, p. A11.  For related coverage see:  MANITOBA GOVERNMENT LOOKING TO PROVIDE MORE PUBLIC ABORTIONS https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2001/sep/01092502.html TWO WOMEN SUE MANITOBA TO FUND ABORTIONS IN PRIVATE CLINICS https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2001/jul/01072702.html MORGENTALER: THE $17 MILLION/YEAR ABORTION MAN https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/1999/nov/99111001.html