This billboard along Highway 97 in West Kelowna is the subject of a complaint to Advertising Standards Canada.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED
May 03, 2022 - 2:37 PM
An advertising standards complaint has been filed against a highly-visible anti-abortion billboard along Highway 97 in West Kelowna.
The Kelowna Right to Life Society's billboard, which has been up for approximately eight months, shows a photo of a pregnant woman with the caption that reads: “Abortion is not ‘healthcare,’ pregnancy is not a disease.”
The complaint filed with Advertising Standards Canada alleges the billboard violates the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards because abortion is healthcare.
READ MORE: Anti-abortion billboard in West Kelowna still standing despite complaint
Kelowna Right to Life argued in a media release issued today, May 3, that in the vast majority of cases, abortions are for healthy women with healthy babies and therefore the procedure should not be considered healthcare.
A decision from ad standards is expected within weeks.
This isn't the first time one of the group's billboards in West Kelowna has been the subject of an ad standards complaint.
A billboard, also along Highway 97, that read "abortion hurts men, too" was allowed to stay up in 2019 despite complaints to ad standards.
READ MORE: Abortion rights motion fails as Tories told to stay silent on U.S. draft decision
Meanwhile, Canadian leaders are among the millions reacting to the news first reported Monday by Politico of a leaked draft opinion by the U.S. Supreme Court, suggesting it could overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion countrywide.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted today that the right to choose is a woman's right and a woman's right alone.
"Every woman in Canada has a right to a safe and legal abortion," Trudeau said. "We’ll never back down from protecting and promoting women’s rights in Canada and around the world."
READ MORE: B.C. finance minister says 'over my dead body,' will abortion access change
In an interview with reporters at the B.C. legislature today, Finance Minister Selina Robinson said "any change to access to abortion will be over my dead body."
Robinson said access to abortion is about healthcare and B.C. is committed to making sure that continues.
"Absolutely nothing is changing here in B.C. on abortions," Robinson said. "We believe abortion is medical care, good medical care."
— With files from The Canadian Press
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