A Canadian anti-abortion group with a history of distributing graphic pamphlets to homes in the Greater Toronto Area is once again drawing public outrage from some Brampton residents.

Marcus Rochefort, father to a 9-year-old, is one of many Brampton residents who received a pamphlet from the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR) showing images of a dismembered fetus.

The organization said the images are used to show the effects of an abortion procedure; however, parents like Rochefort are concerned that these disturbing pamphlets may end up in the hands of young children who sometimes pick up delivered mail.

“Usually you see these graphic pictures on posters in downtown Toronto, but now they’re infiltrating our homes with these pamphlets,” Rochefort said. “I take pride in being open and honest with my son, but this is the first time I’ve ever had to consciously hide something from him because I didn’t know how to approach the situation.”

Rochefort wasn’t the only one who received the graphic material. Jeff Young, a longtime resident of the Peel Village area, said he noticed the pamphlets when he was driving home earlier this month.

“I could see these young women delivering flyers to every house on my street. Half of the pamphlet was deliberately hanging out my mailbox so you couldn’t miss the pictures of the fetus. Once you open it up, the photos are pretty gruesome,” Young said. “I don’t think trying to frighten or manipulate people is the best way to get them to support your cause.”

In a statement to the Guardian, CCBR’s spokesperson, Rachel Miclat said, “There are many strategies that the CCBR team members employ to ensure homeowners are the ones who receive our pamphlets, including always using the mailbox when present, as we understand that the mailbox is a recognized medium to reach homeowners, not children.”

She added, “When there is no mailbox, staff and volunteers are trained to place the pamphlets high in door framers, where young children cannot reach. We have also designed the pamphlets to have the pictures of aborted preborn children on the inside while the ultrasound images of living preborn children are on the outside.”

Although the organization may take steps to restrict children’s exposure to their material, Joyce Arthur, the executive director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada argued CCBR’s approach may violate a public nuisance bylaw that was passed by the city of Brampton in June 2018.