Petition

Stop Ottawa Bubble Zone By-law

0
4,000
SIGNATURE GOAL

Ottawa Parliament Hill


TO: Mr. Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa, and all Ottawa City Councillors

Ottawa is the capital city of our nation and, as such, serves as a beacon of our democratic rights and institutions. Your privilege and responsibility, as Ottawa City Councillors, is to guard this heritage. However, with the recent proposal of a new “bubble zone by-law” (the “Vulnerable Social Infrastructure By-law”), that heritage is under threat.

This far-reaching, undemocratic by-law could restrict lawful protests, demonstrations, rallies, and even conversation and prayer in a 100-metre radius around thousands of locations across the city, encompassing entire city blocks in some cases. Citizens will not be free to express themselves in these public spaces. It will be up to the subjective whims of by-law officers whether a person is saying the “wrong” words, holding the “wrong” sign, or praying the “wrong” prayer within these speech-suppression zones, with outrageous fines of up to $100,000 levied.

If the only purpose of this by-law is to stop criminal activity, as some claim, then it is absolutely redundant. Since the Criminal Code of Canada already prohibits harassment, threats, incitement of violence, and hate crimes, police have the power to halt unlawful protests and to arrest dangerous protesters across the entire city of Ottawa – not just in certain “bubble zones”. All residents are equally protected everywhere under the current law. If police enforcement is a problem, that is the issue you must address.

Otherwise, there is no reason for a new by-law, except to restrict the free expression of opinions and viewpoints that some deem “politically incorrect” or “offensive”.

Ottawa City Council does not have the right to take away our rights in public spaces. Our tax dollars pay for those spaces – they belong to every Canadian, and we should be free to peaceably share our opinions and concerns in those spaces.

After all, according to our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, “Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: ... freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression ... freedom of peaceful assembly...”

According to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, it is a “‘fundamental human right’ for people to gather to celebrate or to air grievances, ‘in public and in private spaces, outdoors, indoors and online.’ ... Governments could not prohibit protests by making ‘generalised references to public order or public safety, or an unspecified risk of potential violence.’”

Therefore, I call on you to reject the “bubble zone by-law” (the “Vulnerable Social Infrastructure By-law”) and to affirm your commitment to guard the rights and freedoms of all Canadians all across the entire city of Ottawa. Anything less is an affront to the heritage of our nation’s capital.

Sign This Petition Now!

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Signatures

Thus far 3791 signatories
Page 1 of 253
Anonymous King City, ON , L7B 1B5
Jul 23, 2025 - 09:36pm
Melanie R. Humboldt, SK , S0K 2A0
Jul 22, 2025 - 02:16pm
Patricia C. McGregor, ON , N0R 1J0
Jul 22, 2025 - 02:06pm
Anonymous Burlington, ON , L7R 3W1
Jul 21, 2025 - 04:08pm
Eleanor H. London, ON , N6G 0T7
Jul 21, 2025 - 01:14pm
Mary W. Fredericton , NB , E3A2W8
Jul 18, 2025 - 11:25pm
Mary A. Stoney Creek , ON , L8E 2H1
Jul 18, 2025 - 03:44pm
T N. Quyon, QC , J0X2V0
Jul 17, 2025 - 11:01pm
Anonymous Elora, ON , N0B 1S0
Jul 17, 2025 - 08:07am
Discusting abuse of Gov't power
Anonymous Kamloops, BC , V1S 1L5
Jul 16, 2025 - 11:09pm
Keep free speech free.
Mary Jean B. Brampton, ON , L6Z 1G6
Jul 15, 2025 - 05:08pm
Melodie V. Clibton, ON , N0M1L0
Jul 13, 2025 - 06:08pm
Anonymous Saskatoon, SK , S7K 2 Y6
Jul 12, 2025 - 02:38pm
Pam B. Fort Montgomery, 0 , 10922-0782
Jul 10, 2025 - 01:47pm
Nancy L. Keswick Ridge , NB , E6L1T9
Jul 9, 2025 - 05:00pm