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 3758 signatories
Page 32 of 251
Anonymous Hamilton , ON , L8R 3J3
Jun 6, 2025 - 12:38am
Derk V. Coaldale, AB , T1M1M6
Jun 6, 2025 - 12:35am
Lorna G. Vanderhoof, BC , V0J 3A0
Jun 6, 2025 - 12:32am
The RIGHT to free speech is fundamental to a democratic country. Canada is regressing..
Rosa I. Cochrane, AB , T4C 2P4
Jun 6, 2025 - 12:19am
Dave H. Abbotsford , BC , V3G3E1
Jun 6, 2025 - 12:18am
Marlene H. Abbotsford , BC , V3G3E1
Jun 6, 2025 - 12:15am
Mary O. Lincoln, ON , L3J 1Y9
Jun 6, 2025 - 12:01am
Marek K. Kanata, 0 , K2L 2V5
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:57pm
Laurine P. Spruce Grove, AB , T7Y1G5
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:56pm
,Kielo C. Verona , ON , K0H 2W0
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:55pm
Susan F. Edmonton, AB , T6P 1S1
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:51pm
Brent E. Sardis, BC , V2R3V3
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:51pm
Mike H. Nanaimo, BC , V9T5P5
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:47pm
Free speech!
Kathryn K. Victoria, BC , V8S 3C5
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:44pm
Anonymous , ON , K7P 0T8
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:41pm