Ontario private member's bill introduced to control delivery of anti-abortion flyers
Activists say women who suffered pregnancy losses and children are unfairly affected
A London, Ont. New Democrat MPP introduced a private member's bill at Queen's Park Monday that would ban the practice of freely distributing images of fetal remains, which many critics argue are too graphic to be left on the doorsteps of family homes.
Terrance Kernaghan, representing London North Centre, introduced the "Viewer Discretion Act" that would require any type of graphic image delivered to the doorstep of a family home to be enclosed in a sealed envelope with the sender's name clearly written on the front.
He says that allows those who receive the materials to choose whether or not to open them.
"These organizations are still free to deliver their materials and state their beliefs, but we do believe that children should have the opportunity to receive a warning before involuntarily opening these images of graphic and gory fetuses."
The distribution of graphic images on anti-abortion flyers in London and other cities has recently triggered a wave of angry complaints, with critics saying the flyers unfairly affect women who have suffered pregnancy losses and children, who are too young to be exposed to such bloody and graphic material.
"We are in our own homes, our safe places. We do not need to be exposed to these images. It's a way to shame women, bully women and it needs to stop," said Katie Dean, a London, Ont., woman.
She founded a lobby group called Viewer Discretion Legislation Coalition last year and appeared Monday alongside Kernaghan and other NDP MPPs supporting the private members bill of the same name.
Many of the flyers are produced by the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR). The Calgary-based group has branches across Canada and describes itself as "an educational human rights organization dedicated to speaking out on behalf of the youngest and most vulnerable members of the human family."
Some Toronto politicians have also pushed for a ban on placards that CCBR supporters carry on downtown street corners. In Saskatoon, Calgary and Surrey, B.C., people have complained about the CCBR's messaging, especially after children found the group's flyers in mailboxes.
Other Canadian cities, including Calgary, have brought in bylaws that ban the delivery of flyers to residences that have put up a "no flyers" sign. The Calgary bylaw was a direct response to the group now distributing the flyers in London.
In Ottawa, people can opt into the city's voluntary admail reduction program by buying a $2 mailbox sticker from the city that says "no junk mail."
Kernaghan said he doesn't want to limit freedom of speech but he wants to ensure people have the choice to see or to read potentially graphic material. He said he's also concerned for mail carriers who may be delivering the material to multiple households over the course of a regular route.
with files from Kerry McKee