The Wilberforce Project (TWP) is speaking out against a bylaw restricting the distribution of flyers showing ultrasounds of mammals. .“This bylaw, which deals with important constitutional questions, was passed with irresponsible haste and without any meaningful public consultation, so why are we surprised that the result is this wacky?” said TWP Executive Director Stephanie Fennelly in a press release. .“The town council passed the bylaw without conducting a legal review of the proposed bylaw.” .The Town of Strathmore passed a bylaw restricting the distribution of flyers containing photos of unborn mammals on July 26. Distributing a single postcard with an ultrasound image of a kitten is now punishable with fines of up to $3,000. .TWP said the bylaw was proposed to restrict anti-abortion organizations from distributing their flyers. However, the bylaw defines images of a fetal mammal, restricting a broader audience than its intended target. .When asked if the bylaw interferes with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Town of Strathmore’s administrator said it did not do a legal review on it. .Fennelly said what is most alarming about the bylaw is it shows Strathmore town council “believes it can regulate what opinions the citizens of Strathmore can have.”.“Strathmore's Town Council ought to spend more time learning how to draft a bylaw and less time regulating the beliefs of their citizens,” said Fennelly. .Calgary city council approved an amendment to the community standards bylaw to protect people from viewing graphic images of fetuses when delivered to their homes in May. .READ MORE: Calgary to require safeguards for images of fetuses on flyers.“Images of aborted fetuses can be deeply traumatizing and harmful for some individuals when viewed unexpectedly,” said Calgary Coun. Jennifer Wyness. .“While we want to uphold the freedom of advocacy groups to express their opinions, we need to also balance our responsibility to protect communities.”
