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Anti-abortion ad pulled from buses in St. John's
Travelling ad also taken down in Hamilton, Fredericton
Metrobus has pulled an anti-abortion advertisement from its buses and shelters in St. John's after complaints from the public.
The ad, funded by the Right to Life Association as part of a national campaign, appeared on at least two buses in the N.L. capital that were used as travelling billboards before it was withdrawn.
Critics said the ad gave the impression that late-term abortions are common in Canada.
The ad reads: "Nine months… the length of time an abortion is allowed in Canada. Abortion. Have we gone too far?"
Metrobus removed it Thursday night, saying the ad was misleading because there's no evidence that late-term abortions are common.
"We did do some research," said Metrobus manager Judy Powell.
She said the transit company took its lead from the code of the Advertising Council of Canada. One of the provisions states that if a statement is misleading or inaccurate, it should be removed.
The association said the ad is an invitation for discussion and the group's executive director for Newfoundland, Patrick Hanlon, said Right to Life stands by its message.
"It's not misleading," he said. "The law is that abortion is allowed in Canada for any reason whatsoever, at any time of pregnancy."
However, in Newfoundland and Labrador, abortions cannot be done after 15 weeks unless there are medical complications. In other provinces, it's up to 20 weeks.
Monday marks the 20th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Canada's abortion law as unconstitutional. The high court strongly urged the government of the time to come up with a new law, but that never happened.
Anti-abortion groups have been working to get the ads shown in other Canadian communities to mark the anniversary, but at least two cities, including Fredericton and Hamilton, have rejected them.
Travelling ad also taken down in Hamilton, Fredericton
Metrobus has pulled an anti-abortion advertisement from its buses and shelters in St. John's after complaints from the public.
The ad, funded by the Right to Life Association as part of a national campaign, appeared on at least two buses in the N.L. capital that were used as travelling billboards before it was withdrawn.
Critics said the ad gave the impression that late-term abortions are common in Canada.
The ad reads: "Nine months… the length of time an abortion is allowed in Canada. Abortion. Have we gone too far?"
Metrobus removed it Thursday night, saying the ad was misleading because there's no evidence that late-term abortions are common.
"We did do some research," said Metrobus manager Judy Powell.
She said the transit company took its lead from the code of the Advertising Council of Canada. One of the provisions states that if a statement is misleading or inaccurate, it should be removed.
The association said the ad is an invitation for discussion and the group's executive director for Newfoundland, Patrick Hanlon, said Right to Life stands by its message.
"It's not misleading," he said. "The law is that abortion is allowed in Canada for any reason whatsoever, at any time of pregnancy."
However, in Newfoundland and Labrador, abortions cannot be done after 15 weeks unless there are medical complications. In other provinces, it's up to 20 weeks.
Monday marks the 20th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Canada's abortion law as unconstitutional. The high court strongly urged the government of the time to come up with a new law, but that never happened.
Anti-abortion groups have been working to get the ads shown in other Canadian communities to mark the anniversary, but at least two cities, including Fredericton and Hamilton, have rejected them.
