Radio 'Win A Baby' Contest Drawing Criticism And Praise

Ottawa's radio Hot 89.9 is stirring up some controversy after they advertised a new contest for parents. The prize?

A baby.

Or, more specifically, a round of fertility treatments for parents who cannot conceive naturally.

Since the station announced their contest, some listeners have taken to Facebook to express their concerns and praise.

Former listener Paul Grant voiced his criticisms on the station's Facebook wall, saying that, instead of hormone treatments, the station should be advocating that people care for unwanted children who need to be adopted.

"Having a baby isn't a right, it's a privilege. If you can't have a baby, try adopting an unwanted baby, rather than pumping your body full of hormones and getting your body to do something it obviously wasn't made to do. Shame, Hot 89.9. You've lost a fan."

Others, like Chantale McMullen, exalted the station for helping a couple with a common problem.

"There are so many women and couples who struggle with infertility and unfortunately sometimes the cost of fertility treatment is just way too much. Thank you Hot 89.9 for giving those of us who want a baby so bad a chance to maybe have a dream come true."

As Metro News reported, in order to win the fertility treatments valued at around $35,000, applicants must write a letter explaining why they deserve the it, and submit a reference form from a doctor to make the top five.

Quick Poll

Do you support this contest?

No way, a baby isn't something that should be "won."

Of course! It provides an expensive service to those in need!

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[DCoxall]

04:31 PM on 09/20/2011

The only controversy surrounding this contest is the fact that the radio station is running fake phone calls and reading fake emails in an attempt to create controversy. Apparently the radio station thinks 'drama' is required at all times. That's what really cheapens this contest.

[GGSS2020]

03:06 AM on 09/11/2011

I heard fertility treament hurts. Does it? Adoption is a long process! But I'd adopt if I can be financially stable.

[mamahappy]

01:51 AM on 09/09/2011

I'm not against science, by any means, but so many children need to be adopted.

[Pierogi kid]

10:40 AM on 09/09/2011

so you prolly should go ahead and adopt one

[mamahappy]

02:01 PM on 09/09/2011

Was going to, but then got pregnant.

[mamahappy]

01:50 AM on 09/09/2011

Maybe there are reasons one can't get pregnant or impregnate. Perhaps it is natures way of saying, "Go adopt some kids."

[PatientZeroBeat]

04:46 PM on 09/08/2011

I bet the whiners who complained about this innocent contest have never done anything to try to get fertility treatments banned in general. After all, that is what they are objecting to. You can't be FOR buying something but AGAINST winning it in a contest.

[abuckley23]

04:27 PM on 09/08/2011

There's nothing wrong with it. Fertility treatments can be expensive. It's not like they're handing them an actual baby!

[Jay from Ottawa]

02:09 PM on 09/08/2011

I like the idea. It would be wrong for the radiostation to somehow bump a 'winning' couple ahead of the list, plus, if the 'winning' couple ends up being dead beat idiots the radio station will be on the hook financially and/or emotionally, for what happened to that kid. On the other hand, they're simply offering treatment to help a couple having trouble having a baby.

While I agree that they should be promoting adoption over medical intervention, the fact is winning a adopted child would raise a lot of stink and controversy.

[3423427]

01:37 PM on 09/08/2011

I don't see anything wrong or offensive about this. If people want to have fertility treatments, it's their private business.

[StAlphonso]

12:54 PM on 09/08/2011

I can see where some people may have a problem with giving away a real live baby in a contest.

If it were already cooked, perhaps...

[AndyWright68]

12:49 PM on 09/08/2011

Adopting a baby is expensive takes many years and you'll probably end up with a crack baby or worse.

It's your family and your choice how you want to plan your family.

[Scoop511]

11:31 AM on 09/08/2011

My husband and I tried for a few years to have a baby and it resulted in multiple losses after which everyone said oh you guys should adopt. 90% of the people who said that were people who had kids. Anyone who has found themself actually in the situation knows it's not that easy. Take a look at the adoption sites...most if not all the kids on there are older and have mental or physical disabilities. Just because someone can't have their own kid, doesn't mean they want to take on a mentally or physically challenged kid.

[Jon Rybka-Wachhaus]

12:52 PM on 09/08/2011

You're kidding me right? You think that the only kids to be adopted are old or mentally/physically disabled? Being adopted (and being completely normal and healthy) I find your comment incredibly offensive. There are thousands if not millions of children out there in this world who need homes. So you don't get a newborn. Maybe you get one that is a couple months old.. So what.. And another thing....who is to say that your own child wouldn't come out mentally or physically handicapped. Would you give it up? Ya know, not to be completely mean but maybe God was trying to tell you something.

[Pierogi kid]

10:37 AM on 09/09/2011

have you adopted any children sir?

[sarah mtlgirl 98]

12:29 PM on 09/09/2011

please dont bring God into this, do you think God intended children to be born to parents that neglect/abuse/kill them? This person might have the wrong idea as any child deserves a loving family but bringing religion into this is just wrong.

[etiennemacchias]

01:06 PM on 09/08/2011

I think you need to reevaluate why you want to conceive: To provide a lifetime of happiness to a child -- regardless of its differently-abled mind or body -- or to bring you and your husband a sense of fulfillment?

[Scoop511]

01:42 PM on 09/08/2011

I think when someone adopts, it's for both reasons not an either/or situation. Adopting a child is a lifelong decision and people need to be honest about their wants and needs upfront.

[2083]

09:04 PM on 09/08/2011

"differentl­y-abled"

Good one.

[Nic the wonder puppy]

11:14 AM on 09/08/2011

Well at least Canadians have a sense of humor

[dulanism]

11:00 AM on 09/08/2011

Though this method of child adoption is odd, I believe if a couple that can't conceive but capable of raising a child should follow suit.

[TaxpayingVoter]

10:33 AM on 09/08/2011

Some people are so judgmental.

You know what? It's nobody's d amned business what a person/couple want to do to form their own family. Nobody's.

B utt out.

[Victoria Weaver]

11:05 AM on 09/08/2011

true
but this is an obvious publicity stunt, and if you choose to participate in this particular contest you have to know there will be press involved, and if the 35,000 is worth it than the scrutiny and judgement shouldn't make a difference

[TaxpayingVoter]

03:00 PM on 09/08/2011

It's a publicity stunt for the radio station.

People who want children want them very badly and would do it in spite of that.

Besides, I'm referring to the comments of the people assuming they have the right to judge others for the decisions they make regarding their own families.

[iLdoRight]

03:34 AM on 09/08/2011

It feels like it would be worth more than millions. When I ride the bus through some poor neighborhoods and the young girls get on with their babies and I wonder if they even know who the father is or if they will ever be married to him or if they got pregnant just to get some welfare money, I also feel envy that they have a little humans that looks sorta like them, or sometimes she is with a young man and I hope they last forever and are always good to each other and I see how the child looks like both of them, I think, "They may not have much in a monetary sense, but what they have could bring them so much more happiness than a big pile of money. If they treat the child right, chances are when they are real old that child will be there to love and do what it can for them and perhaps they will have grandchildren to play with and what could more fun than that?.

[3423427]

01:35 PM on 09/08/2011

You're kidding, right? Maybe I'm just a cynic but being a young, poor, probably single mother sounds awful. I don't envy a single thing about the daily struggle these people must face - bad neighborhoods infested with drugs, possible homelessness, poor healthcare, awful public schools, debt, not knowing where your next meal will come from, family and friends in and out of jail, relying on public transportation, possibly seeing their own kids go to jail, get killed or on drugs and raising all their grandchildren in yet another cycle of poverty, etc. Lots of things are more fun that that - like having a place to live in a safe area, having food, a good education, being able to travel, and so on...