At a recent corporate services committee meeting, regional councillors in Niagara requested a report on governing the public display of graphic images. St. Catharines Coun. Laura Ip, who initiated the request, highlighted the need to understand how the display of such images can be regulated in the public right of way. This move mirrors similar actions taken in cities like Hamilton, London, Oakville, and Toronto.
Ip clarified that while one anti-abortion group in Niagara publicly displays graphic signage, another agency refrains from such campaigns. She cited MADD Canada as an organization that opts not to use graphic images in its messaging, believing that the public may not respond positively to them.
The request for the report outlines graphic images as visual representations that contravene the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards or offend prevailing standards of public decency. This includes images depicting medical waste, fetuses, dead or injured animals or humans, or parts thereof.
Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop also requested inclusion of information regarding freedom of speech implications in the report. Ip mentioned that several municipalities have already enacted bylaws against distributing graphic images to residences, reflecting the growing concern among residents about being exposed to such imagery in public spaces.
St. Catharines city council previously passed a similar bylaw following complaints about the delivery of flyers with graphic images to homes. However, an Ottawa-based organization opposing abortion is challenging this bylaw in court, arguing that it infringes on constitutional rights and should be deemed invalid.
The debate surrounding the regulation of graphic images in public spaces underscores the delicate balance between freedom of expression and protecting public sensibilities. The forthcoming report will likely delve into these complex issues, providing valuable insights for policymakers in Niagara and beyond.
