City Hall - London Ont. (Angelique Guerard/XFM News)
It was a long night in the council chambers.
The topics of public discussion were regarding the proposed homeless shelters on two of London’s golf courses, and on a much debated bylaw regarding unaddressed flyers.
The homeless shelter debate lasted around a little under two hours, with the committee voting 5-1 to endorse the winter shelter plan. The discussion regarding the flyer bylaw lasted 3 and a half hours, and had 22 speakers come forward to speak.
Usually, a bylaw regarding something as mundane as flyers would not generate so much discussion. But with the graphic anti-abortion pamphlets that have been distributed in London in recent months, the discussion quickly turned to a different topic.
The pro-life vs pro-choice debate is a heated one, not just in London, but nationally. And last night, the Community and Protective Services Committee was used as a platform to continue this debate, however much officials tried to keep it focused on the flyer topic.
“The content of what we’re discussing tonight, because it deals with abortion, termination of pregnancy, miscarriage, many other very traumatic events for people, it could be very difficult,” said Chair Jessie Helmer in his opening remarks.
“If people step over the line, if something is really out there, I’m going to bring you back in. ”
Throughout the delegation, both sides of the debate spoke, with a major talking point of those against being the violation of charter rights by restricting these flyers.
Maria McCann a co-founder of London Against Abortion, was the first of the delegates, spoke on how she views the bylaw as taking away freedom of speech.
“I’m here today because I’m very concerned that certain parties are advocating for policies that would seriously inhibit the freedom of expression of Londoners, and in particular of pro life, Londoners.” McCann said over a Zoom call to the committee.
She also shared a few stories of how her group had helped several women with education regarding abortion.
“We do this because we care about women and families facing difficult pregnancies. And because we care about pre-born children whose very lives are at risk from abortion.”
Her final thoughts were that pro-life Londoners should have the same rights as all Canadians.
For those for the bylaw, the major point was the trauma the images in the flyers handed out by some pro-life proponents can cause.
Ryan O’Hagan, a London resident, spoke as well on the trauma his pregnant wife received after seeing the graphic images in the flyers and on the streets.
“The flyer prompted feelings of nervousness and fear about the well being of the baby that she was carrying at the time. And I distinctly remember her asking me, how can they do this?”
He says that not only should these flyers be regulated, they also “violate Canadian code for advertising standards” and are “riddled with misinformation.”
O’Hagan left council with a final statement on the import of the decisions they make regarding this bylaw.
“The City of London has an opportunity here to be at the forefront of the prevention of at least one mental health issue by banning images that are seen as traumatic to a significant portion of the population.”
Comments