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 3760 signatories
Page 41 of 251
Anonymous Mono, ON , L9W 6M9
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:21pm
Marianne D. , ON , L5C 4J4
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:21pm
Anonymous Saskatoon , SK , S0K3A0
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:21pm
FREEDOM, Stop the BS already
Sandra M. Winnipeg, MB , R3N 1N5
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:19pm
Bea P. Oakville, ON , L6L 2T5
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:18pm
Wendy M. Burlington, ON , L7M 0G9
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:15pm
Diane T. LaBroquerie , MB , R0A 0W0
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:13pm
We have rights too!
Marie A. Perth, ON , K7H3C6
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:10pm
I am against the proposed "Vulnerable Social Infrastructure By-law" It is a serious assault to our right to peaceful protest and free speech.
John C. Whitby, ON , L1N5Y8
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:10pm
Karen D. Leamington, ON , N8H 3J5
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:08pm
As Canadians we must be free to peacefully express ourselves without threat of penalty. This is part of what makes a democracy. Please do not remove this freedom from our country.
Geraldine S. Surrey, BC , V3T 4J5
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:06pm
Veronic M. Winnipeg, MB , R2N1T4
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:05pm
Anonymous , SK , S4X4T7
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:03pm
Anonymous L'Orignal, ON , K0B 1K0
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:01pm
Does the bubble zone include radical ideas coming out of Ottawa city hall. Let’s put these city councillors to the fire and hold them to account.
Cheryl R. Tecumseh, ON , N8N 4C2
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:01pm