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 3759 signatories
Page 39 of 251
Anonymous Québec, QC , G1S 0C9
Jun 5, 2025 - 08:12pm
Deanna B. Drayton Valley, AB , T7A 1E3
Jun 5, 2025 - 08:12pm
Sally R. Armprior, ON , K7S2X3
Jun 5, 2025 - 08:09pm
Irene C. scarborough, ON , M1T 3J9
Jun 5, 2025 - 08:06pm
Karen J. Lundar, MB , R0C 1Y0
Jun 5, 2025 - 08:05pm
Anonymous Orillia, ON , L3V 0A1
Jun 5, 2025 - 08:04pm
Anonymous Powassan, ON , P0H1Z0
Jun 5, 2025 - 08:03pm
guy l. spruce grove, AB , T7X 3T1
Jun 5, 2025 - 08:02pm
Anonymous London , ON , N6J2G1
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:52pm
Nicholas D. Carleton Place, ON , K7C1E9
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:50pm
Cindy C. Addison, ON , K0E 1A0
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:49pm
Janelle M. , SK , S0C 2H0
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:48pm
Brigitte M. Richmond, BC , V7E 4M3
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:45pm
Anonymous Moose Jaw, SK , S6H 0X5
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:45pm
O CANADA - strong & FREE
Anonymous London , ON , N6j2g1
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:45pm