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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Thus far 3755 signatories
Page 15 of 251
rob l. stony plain, AB , t7z1w2
Jun 6, 2025 - 06:36pm
Andre S. LEDUC, AB , T9E 6B1
Jun 6, 2025 - 06:14pm
Richard W. Maple Ridge, BC , V2X 8X4
Jun 6, 2025 - 05:55pm
Anonymous edmonton, AB , T6K 2R1
Jun 6, 2025 - 05:39pm
Stephen G. Kamloops, BC , V2C 3C8
Jun 6, 2025 - 05:32pm
John J O. Ottawa, ON , K1B 3H5
Jun 6, 2025 - 05:15pm
Anonymous Ottawa, ON , K1G 5R3
Jun 6, 2025 - 05:07pm
Lynn W. LaSalle , ON , N9J2G1
Jun 6, 2025 - 05:06pm
Anonymous Ottawa, ON , K4A2R7
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:57pm
Canada is heading in a socialist direction and it’s scary!
Diana K. Winnipeg, MB , R2V2T4
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:50pm
Erin F. Airdrie, AB , T4A1N6
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:44pm
Anonymous Whitehorse, YT , Y1A 0B8
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:41pm
Wow! Unbelievable that it has come to this!
Anonymous Edmonton, AB , T6L2P3
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:31pm
Democracy is in grave danger.
Lynda C. Havelock, ON , K0L 1Z0
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:27pm
Estelle A. Prince Albert , SK , S6V 5R3
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:06pm