Atheist ads will be running on Ottawa buses.

Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.

City council voted 13-7 yesterday to allow ads, which read: “There’s probably no God, now stop worrying and enjoy your life,” on OC Transpo buses.

Humanist Association of Ottawa member Simon Parcher called the decision a great victory for all Canadians who care about free speech.

“We’ve struggled for decades in this country for the freedom of expression,” he said.

Bay Ward Coun. Alex Cullen said by not allowing the ads on buses, it transgresses the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“The basis of the free and democratic society that we take so much pride in is the ability to freely debate ideas, even if they are controversial,” he said.

City solicitor Rick O’Connor said the decision was not sustainable in court if it was challenged, but still, not everyone agreed with the decision.

Life Christian Academy principal Mike Karpishka and 40 of his students protested outside city hall yesterday.

“We understand freedom of speech, but we don’t want these ads on the buses,” Karpishka said. “The ads are offensive.

“To say that there is no God — as a Christian, it doesn’t shake my faith,” he said.

Rather, it could sway a non-believer, he said.

Because of the decision, some of the students at the school have said they won’t ride any bus with the ad, something Karpishka said he supports.

“We will continue praying as Christians that this won’t have the effect that we know it will have,” he said.
Orleans Coun.

Bob Monette also agreed the ads were offensive and derogatory with respect to people who believe in God.

Parcher said he expects the ads to start running on buses within the next few weeks, depending on the space available.

Initially the Humanist group had planned on only running ads on 10 buses, but since they have received more donation money following the publicity the debate generated, they may be able to buy more.