Council seeks changes to prevent future controversial ads on city buses

A plan from city council to make changes to their advertising policies to prevent a pro-life group from ever running pro-life ads on public transit – with graphic images of fetuses – was ratified by council on Monday night, even after several women told council they failed by not blocking the ads in the first place.

Two ads are coming to public transit this week – likely Tuesday.

They come from the Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform, and they feature graphic images of aborted fetuses.

Coun. Diane Therrien said she was appalled that the ads are going to run.

Others also said they were unhappy. Coun. Henry Clarke said that everyone on council and staff were all appalled about the ads – but they are under court order to use them.

“We would have prevented it if we could have,” he said, which drew heckles from the crowd.

Other councillors said they were also unhappy that the ads were going to run.

“I certainly do not want to see the ads running around town – but that’s where we are,” said Coun. Keith Riel.

“I can tell you – I didn’t want these ads,” said Coun. Lesley Parnell. “Most people didn’t. But we’re under court order. We can make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Yet the ads are going up – the manager of transportation has said they are expected on the bus by Tuesday, and will remain there for three weeks.

Councillors heard from at least a dozen women who thought council had erred in allowing the ads to be purchased in the first place.

Caleigh Chirico, a Trent University student, said she’d been a “broke student” when she had her abortion at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).

She had to go to several appointments at PRHC, she said – and she had to take the bus to get there. She said she didn’t know how her mental health might have been affected from seeing these ads on the bus on her way to the hospital.

The CCBR has no business putting their ads on buses – which people like her depend on for transportation.

The ads demonize those who have abortions, she said – and she thinks it’s appalling.

“You should not get a platform to spew your bigotry,” she said.

Chirico asked council to apologize to all citizens in Peterborough for allowing the ads on the buses.

Others asked for the same, including Aynsley Dunlop Smith, who also asked that the city’s website point out which buses are carrying the ads – and when.

The issue goes back to more than a year ago, when CCRB asked to run an ad on transit buses featuring graphic images of fetuses.

The city said no, but later conceded it would have to accept the ads – or else it would violate the group’s freedom of expression.

The CCRB took the issue to court so the city could not back down on its promise to use the ads.