Canada's main abortion provider is battling with the Manitoba government. Dr. Henry Morgentaler wants the province to pay for abortions done at his clinic in Winnipeg The government is refusing. Now Morgentaler says he's going to sue.

Morgentaler says women in Manitoba face a desperate situation. There is only one hospital where abortions are performed. And doctors at his clinic can see no more than 10 patients a week.

"We could do about three times as much and relieve the waiting list at the hospital, which is much too long," he said.

The average wait for a hospital abortion is four weeks, rising to six weeks in the summer.

Morgentaler has been trying to get the province to take over his clinic. Under his plan he would continue to manage it, and the government would handle the bills. But after several months of talks, the province broke off negotiations.

Health Minister Dave Chomiak says Morgentaler hoped to continue the facility simply as an abortion clinic, but the government wants a community health centre.

"His vision of what he wanted for a clinic, and our vision of a clinic offering a broader range of services did not match," said the minister.

This week Morgentaler made several last ditch efforts to get Chomiak to change his mind. But that failed

Morgentaler says he has one option left and that's to sue.

"The government is clearly wrong. I mean we want a declaration from the courts that what the government is doing is in violation of the Canada Health Act."

Federal health officials won't get involved for now. They are confident Manitoba will come up with a plan to fund all abortions done in the province.