Modify the Offensive Pro-Life ad on Regina Transit Bus

A pro-life organization in Regina, Saskatchewan purchased advertising space on a Regina Transit Bus. The advertisement that the organization has purchased is to run for a period of 6-months as an outdoor ad on the City of Regina bus.

This advertisement depicts the word abortion in large letters at the top of the advertisement. In the main part of the ad, there are images of what appear to be aborted fetuses. These images are visible to the general public of the City of Regina.

According to section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, advertising and other means of commercial expression are protected grounds, and any organization or group has the right to advertise in Canada. However, according to section 14 of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards:

“It is recognized that advertisements may be distasteful without necessarily conflicting with the provisions of this clause 14; and the fact that a particular product or service may be offensive to some people is not sufficient grounds for objecting to an advertisement for that product or service.

Advertisements shall not:

(a) condone any form of personal discrimination, including that based upon race, national origin, religion, sex or age;

(b) appear in a realistic manner to exploit, condone or incite violence; nor appear to condone, or directly encourage, bullying; nor directly encourage, or exhibit obvious indifference to, unlawful behaviour;

(c) demean, denigrate or disparage any identifiable person, group of persons, firm, organization, industrial or commercial activity, profession, product or service or attempt to bring it or them into public contempt or ridicule;

(d) undermine human dignity; or display obvious indifference to, or encourage, gratuitously and without merit, conduct or attitudes that offend the standards of public decency prevailing among a significant segment of the population.”