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 3755 signatories
Page 13 of 251
Joan B. Regina, SK , S4t5t9
Jun 6, 2025 - 10:32pm
Anonymous North Bay, ON , P1A 2N1
Jun 6, 2025 - 10:09pm
Anonymous Oro, ON , L0l1T0
Jun 6, 2025 - 10:07pm
Przemyslaw O. Ottawa, ON , K1K3X3
Jun 6, 2025 - 10:03pm
Alisha H. Waterloo, ON , N2J 1Z7
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:59pm
Len M. Gatineau , QC , J9H7K5
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:51pm
Linda D. Ottawa, ON , K1Z 7W8
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:46pm
Lizia R. Toronto, ON , M9V 2T8
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:44pm
Government of Canada, you have no right to restrict free speech. You do not represent the people of Canada. You are frauds that are being exposed. Resign or be held accountable. Get out of the way of those who love humanity.
Candace J. Morris, MB , R0G 1K0
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:39pm
Anonymous Hearst, ON , P0L 1N0
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:35pm
Harold C. Blue Mountain , ON , L9Y 0M7
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:23pm
Johannes S. Surrey, BC , V3W 0R8
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:21pm
John H. Richmond Hill, ON , L4C 3Z5
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:17pm
Anonymous Devlin, ON , P0W1C0
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:12pm
Freedom
Jackie V. ri, MB , R0G
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:00pm