Petition

Stop Ottawa Bubble Zone By-law

0
3,000
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 2521 signatories
Page 4 of 169
Jan W. Komoka, ON , N0L 1R0
Nov 22, 2024 - 08:28am
Rick S. Keene, ON , K9J 6X7
Nov 22, 2024 - 08:04am
As the democratic centre of our nation and our freedom you should know and do better than to even consider such an undemocratic move as to restrict free speech and lawful protest. Bubble Zones are an affront to The Constitution!
Patricia M. Espanola, ON , P5E 1A6
Nov 22, 2024 - 07:21am
Gwynneth G. Calgary, AB , T2Z 1P5
Nov 21, 2024 - 10:04pm
Anonymous Winnipeg, MB , R3P1J3
Nov 21, 2024 - 12:20pm
Ross M. , BC , V9B6H6
Nov 21, 2024 - 01:42am
Anonymous Edmonton, AB , T6J0M5
Nov 21, 2024 - 01:23am
Theresa G. St. Bernard de Lacolle, QC , J0J 1V0
Nov 20, 2024 - 09:57pm
ANDRE P M. CORNWALL, ON , K6H5J8
Nov 20, 2024 - 07:41pm
Too much power for gvt officials.
Anonymous Brossard, QC , J4X 2R8
Nov 19, 2024 - 12:04pm
Maria-Anna C. Tecumseh, ON , N8N 4N2
Nov 19, 2024 - 11:24am
All voices need to be heard. Peaceful demonstrations do not create any danger, and provide food for thought for bystanders. Hopefully the members of our government will not lock themselves up within the walls of Parliament Hill. Furthermore, our government should not lock its citizens up in their respective households.
Jan C. Tecumseh, ON , N8N 4N2
Nov 19, 2024 - 10:22am
Brad J. Bashaw, AB , T0B0H0
Nov 19, 2024 - 09:49am
Craig M. Edmonton, AB , T6H 1K6
Nov 19, 2024 - 09:37am
Roger M. , NS , Hfx
Nov 19, 2024 - 07:31am