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!

Do you wish to send a postcard?

(Note: If you choose Yes, CLC will mail a physical postcard, pictured here, in your name, to the petition target(s). You'll be asked to donate $1.75 toward the cost of postage & printing)

Postcard Sample

Signatures

Thus far 3758 signatories
Page 33 of 251
Michelle L. Leduc , AB , T9E 4T6
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:41pm
JAN E. STRATFORD, ON , N5A 3A1
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:38pm
Mathew I. Grande Prairie, AB , T8X 0C8
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:33pm
Brigitte F. Scarborough, ON , M1B 2A3
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:32pm
Anonymous Winnipeg, MB , R3P 1E8
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:29pm
Boyanne E. Calgary, AB , T3G4E9
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:23pm
Anonymous Salmon Arm , BC , V1E2R2
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:23pm
Victoria M. Cranbrook , BC , V1C1S7
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:20pm
Thank you for truly taking honest consideration to all Canadian peoples!
Anne W. West Vancouver , BC , V7V 1W1
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:09pm
Canada was a free country. Why should free speech now be criminalized?
Jeff M. Ottawa, ON , K4R 0J6
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:06pm
Anonymous Midland , ON , L4R2L3
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:06pm
Anonymous Tottenham, ON , L0G 1W0
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:02pm
Anonymous newmarket, ON , L3Y 1E8
Jun 5, 2025 - 11:00pm
Michael R. Tottenham, ON , L0G1W0
Jun 5, 2025 - 10:59pm
Anonymous Lethbridge, AB , T1K 4T3
Jun 5, 2025 - 10:48pm
.