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 3792 signatories
Page 23 of 253
Anonymous leduc, AB , t9e0l6
Jun 6, 2025 - 11:15am
Raymond Y. Markham, ON , L6C0E7
Jun 6, 2025 - 11:15am
Ruth K. Caroline, AB , T0M0M0
Jun 6, 2025 - 11:14am
Carrie Rose V. Dashwood, ON , N0M 1N0
Jun 6, 2025 - 11:13am
Anonymous Chestermere, AB , T1X1k8
Jun 6, 2025 - 11:12am
Bruce T. Parkland County , AB , T7Y 2W3
Jun 6, 2025 - 11:11am
Marguerite C. Gatineau , QC , J9A 3E6
Jun 6, 2025 - 11:04am
Ron F. Bolton, ON , L7E3H3
Jun 6, 2025 - 11:03am
Tom G. LEAMINGTON, ON , N8H4R6
Jun 6, 2025 - 11:02am
David G. Kingsville , ON , N9Y 3Y8
Jun 6, 2025 - 11:02am
Like it or not. Christ is King. Any decree against our God given human rights will not be obeyed by the faithful.
Warman B. Chesterville, ON , K0C 1H0
Jun 6, 2025 - 10:52am
You are a bunch of dictators. Move back to China or Russia where you belong. You are not welcome here at all. I wonder just how much of the law that you people know and understand??? We do have the right to protest peacefully and freely. I am a pro lifer and not a pro abortionist and I do not support abortion clinics.
Lorna O. Victoria, BC , V8N 1B5
Jun 6, 2025 - 10:47am
GERHARD W. Surrey, BC , V3X0H8
Jun 6, 2025 - 10:46am
Anonymous London, ON , N5X 4M5
Jun 6, 2025 - 10:45am
Anonymous Mississauga, ON , L5B 1R6
Jun 6, 2025 - 10:43am
Peaceful protests are enshrined in Canada's constitution. We must all maintain freedom in Canada