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 3757 signatories
Page 25 of 251
elaine h. calgary, AB , t2b 2n5
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:19am
Joseph L. Kanata , ON , K2M 1G2
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:15am
Anonymous Albertville, SK , S0J 0A0
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:15am
Maureen S. Salmon Arm, BC , V1E 3B3
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:15am
Anonymous Coquitlam , BC , V3K6H8
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:11am
Dorota R. St. Thomas, ON , N5P 0E6
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:11am
Barb M. Saskatoon, SK , S7J3R2
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:09am
Anonymous Ajax, ON , L1S2P1
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:05am
Barbara N. Edmonton, AB , T5X 4M7
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:04am
Pro Life supporters aren't known to be agitator nor to practise anything that violates a free democratic country's choice Shame on Ottawa for violating any citizens rights. Stop Hamas instead
Rev. John S. TECUMSEH, ON , N8N 4X1
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:02am
Anonymous Warren Grove, PE , C0A1H5
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:01am
Anonymous Scarborough , ON , M1R 4P9
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:01am
Leslie B. Lac la Biche, AB , T0A2C0
Jun 6, 2025 - 09:00am
Freedom of expression must be maintained
Maria A. Mississauga, ON , L5N8B2
Jun 6, 2025 - 08:59am
At the end, no matter what the government and the forces of the World try to do, the darkness will fall and they will not prevail against our Holy Lord, Jesus Christ. VIVA CRISTO REY! Canada, animo y para adelante! Ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
Donna J. Brampton , ON , L6X2J8
Jun 6, 2025 - 08:57am
I absolutely and most definitely reject the bubble zone by law