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 3759 signatories
Page 40 of 251
Bertha R. Scarborough, ON , M1M 2Z8
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:44pm
Anonymous PA sk, SK , s6v 7j8
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:42pm
Anonymous Victoria, BC , V8W 3B4
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:41pm
stop the bubble zone
Wendy C. Toronto, ON , M4H 1J3
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:38pm
Glen G. Gatineau, QC , J8T 6E8
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:36pm
Anonymous West Kelowna , BC , V4T1M1
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:33pm
Will H. Calgary, AB , T3m0a8
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:33pm
Anonymous L'Orignal, ON , K0B 1K0
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:32pm
Jannie . St Anns. On, ON , L0R 1Y0
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:31pm
Catharine B. Ontario, ON , L9C2L8
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:28pm
God keep our land , glorious and free
Anonymous COQUITLAM, BC , V3B6G6
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:25pm
Ruby M. Finch, ON, ON , K0C 1K0
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:23pm
Why do you, Mayor Sutcliffe, feel this is required?
Anonymous Smithville , ON , L0R2A0
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:23pm
Gerald B. Ile des Chenes East, MB , R0A 0T4
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:22pm
Anonymous Mono, ON , L9W 6M9
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:21pm