The abortion debate is heating up in Halifax. Pro-choice ads will soon be popping up on Metro Transit buses in response to pro-life ads that appeared on buses in January.

A baby was pictured in the pro-life ads, which said, “Luc was born today but his life began nine months ago.”

The ads from pro-life group Signs 4 Life reignited the abortion debate and much of the reaction was negative, but pro-life advocates say anything that generates discussion is a good thing.

“We were really, really thrilled at just the reaction,” says pro-life advocate Julie Culshaw. “We had no idea we were going to get that kind of reaction.”

Now, South House and the Halifax Sexual Health Centre have joined forces to launch an ad campaign of their own.

“We just wanted to harness the energy that was happening and make an ad that didn’t really respond to anything, but just reminded people that they have rights and they have a choice,” says pro-choice advocate Allison Sparling.

The Halifax group used crowdfunding to raise more than $4,000 for the bus ads. But some say public transit isn’t the place to discuss such a personal and divisive issue.

“I don’t know that the debate needs to be that visible,” says one Halifax resident.

“It kind of makes something that’s really personal and very intimate kind of packaged up all cheap,” says another.

While the ads are promoting a pro-choice stance, pro-life advocates are welcoming them, saying the ads will only help their position.

“It brought so much attention to our campaign,” says Culshaw. “We couldn’t have paid for that kind of advertising.”

Sparling says she hopes the ads dispel myths and educate transit users about abortions and the pro-choice movement.

“You’re taking someone who’s in a very vulnerable position, who maybe doesn’t have other mentors or access to people who can guide them, and you’re providing them with some of the facts,” says Sparling.

But pro-life advocates say the ads don’t provide all the facts either.

“They’re bias is very much pro-abortion. There’s never any discussion of fetal development. They stay away from that,” says Culshaw.

The ads are set to appear on Metro Transit buses beginning Monday. They will appear on all 255 buses and will remain for a month.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kayla Hounsell