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 16 of 251
Anonymous Thorsby, AB , T0C 2P0
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:06pm
please stop this new bill against free speech
Anonymous Campbell river, BC , V9w2s5
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:05pm
Doreen C. Sherwood Park, AB , T8H0S2
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:04pm
Rosalie S. , 0 , E5C 3E7
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:03pm
Richard M. Collingwood, ON , L9Y5H2
Jun 6, 2025 - 04:02pm
Anthony G. Toronto, ON , M9P3T2
Jun 6, 2025 - 03:48pm
Margaret S. London, Ontario Canada, ON , N6K 4B6
Jun 6, 2025 - 03:44pm
Why have the laws changed that unborn babies are at risk? Are those in charge no longer in power to protect all?
Omer G. Saskatoon, SK , S7J 3G6
Jun 6, 2025 - 03:35pm
Anonymous Langford, BC , V9C 0M4
Jun 6, 2025 - 03:29pm
Anonymous Victoria, BC , V9C 0M4
Jun 6, 2025 - 03:28pm
Anonymous Powell River, BC , V8A 5N6
Jun 6, 2025 - 03:23pm
Jo-Ann C. Okotoks , AB , T1S 1A4
Jun 6, 2025 - 03:22pm
Bernard T. Cornwall, ON , K6H6M5
Jun 6, 2025 - 03:17pm
Angela M. Caledon, ON , L7K 0L1
Jun 6, 2025 - 03:15pm
Citizens of Canada have a right to peacefully protest
Benjamin W. PortOrange, 0 , 32129
Jun 6, 2025 - 02:57pm