The city's is revamping its advertising policy to allow religious ads and advocacy campaigns on municipal property.

"It's not defensible to continue to restrict this form of advertising," Don Hull, the city's director of transit told councillors yesterday.

The city decided to review its advertising policy after controversy erupted in January over staff's decision to pull pro-life ads from city bus shelters.

Hamilton Right to Life, which sponsored the ad about late term abortions, has launched a human rights complaint against the city. The case is headed to meditation.

In hindsight, Hull said he would have handled the situation differently by only removing the ad in a vandalized bus shelter and leaving the rest.

The ads would be allowed by the new policy as long as they meet guidelines set by Advertising Standard Canada. After receiving complaints, the industry council recently ruled the Right to Life ads, which ran nationally, were misleading and should be removed. The ad campaign was already over.

The revised policy, which must still receive final approval from council, essentially removes staff as a "censorship board," said Hull, calling it a "no-win-situation."

Lawyer Peter Boushy, who is representing Hamilton Right to Life in the suit, applauded the city for broadening its policy.

"Sometimes in life a good defence is a strong offence," he said. "All we're saying is let all views out, even opposing views."

The new policy also opens the door to Bus Stop Bible Studies, a Scarborough-based ministry that uses transit ads to spread its message. The organization won political battles to advertise in Toronto and Burlington, but were rejected by Mississauga.

Hamilton previously rejected the ad campaign, but it would be allowed by the new rules. Founder David Harrison said he would be canvassing churches to look for sponsors for a local campaign.

"You should be allowed to put up positive messages," he said, suggesting cities should only ban ads that are deliberately offensive.

The content of transit advertising is an issue across the country. The Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling soon on a case that arose in B.C. related to political advertising.

Nicole MacIntyre writes for The Hamilton Spectator. She can be reached at nmacintyre@thespec.com.

Originally published in The Hamilton Spectator, June 3, 2008.

Used with permission.  Copyright © 2008 Christianity.ca.

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