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 3761 signatories
Page 42 of 251
Cheryl R. Tecumseh, ON , N8N 4C2
Jun 5, 2025 - 07:01pm
Anonymous Nepean, ON , K2J5X8
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:59pm
Anonymous Ottawa , ON , K1j 8h8
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:59pm
Please don’t let this law pass
paul z. OTTAWA, ON , K2G 4J8
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:58pm
Canada is becoming more and more like a communist country.
Anonymous Merville, BC , V0R 2M0
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:55pm
Ursula W. Merville, BC , V0R 2M0
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:52pm
Theresa M. Pickering , ON , L1V 6B4
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:50pm
Barbara D. Waterford , ON , N0E 1Y0
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:50pm
Anonymous Lloydminster, AB , T9V0G1
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:50pm
Joseph Z. OTTAWA, ON , K1B 4B4
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:48pm
Please stop taking aware our rights
Antoinette C. Nepean, ON , K2G 3W9
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:48pm
Cecilia S. Williams Lake , BC , V2G 3E5
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:47pm
Often women agree to an abortion because they are coerced or feel that they have no help or support. Denying the presence and the voices of those who are ready to is depriving women of the support many are looking for and that many need.
Anonymous Toronto, ON , M9W 5V7
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:46pm
Anonymous Niagara Falls, ON , L2E 0B2
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:46pm
Theresa M. Brantford, ON , N3R 6G4
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:45pm