London group to screen documentary on what it did to ban graphic anti-abortion flyers

The same week a pro-life organization said it had started litigation against the City of London for banning its material, the activists who fought for the ban are screening a documentary about how they did it.

Viewer Discretion: The London Situation tells the story of the Viewer Discretion Legislation Coalition (VDLC) which formed in 2020 after London residents started finding flyers featuring graphic full-colour images in their mailboxes.

They were being delivered by an Alberta-based anti-abortion group.

"Citizens were absolutely outraged because their children were finding them," said VDLC co-founder Katie Dean. "People who had gone through pregnancy loss were finding them. These were very triggering images."

After learning the flyers were being distributed in a number of major cities across Canada while facing no legal challenge, Dean formed the group and started to appeal for London's city council to address the issue.

Council eventually developed a bylaw in Dec. 2023 requiring graphic images to be fully concealed in envelopes marked with a warning. Those opposed raised concerns over freedom of expression rights.

Now, the Association of Reformed Political Action (ARPA) hopes to take the issue to the courts, saying it has filed a notice of application this week challenging the constitutionality of the ban.

It argues municipalities have no right to dictate freedom of conscience and religion and freedom of expression.

"They also argue that a municipality does not have the constitutional authority to regulate the distribution of literature based on the City's judgment of what specific content, point of view, or subject matter is objectionable or offensive," ARPA's John Sikkema wrote in a statement.

"ARPA contends that the bylaw's true nature and purpose is to suppress pro-life content."

The move to introduce the ban in London did received support from one provincial politician who hoped it would become law in Ontario. London North Centre NDP MPP Terence Kernaghan introduced a private member's bill but it failed to get a second reading.

The City of St. Catharines also repealed its graphic image bylaw last year. It was also facing the prospect of a court challenge.

But Dean is unperturbed and says the story told in the documentary is about local activists making change.

"Viewer consent matters," said Dean. "They can deliver them, but people in their homes have the right to decided whether they want to see it or not.

"I just don't want people to forget the work that's been done. Let's not give up."

Viewer Discretion: The London Situation premiers Saturday at noon at the Hyland Cinema in London. It is free for the public to attend.