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 3761 signatories
Page 43 of 251
Leon D. Yellowhead County, AB , T7E 3V6
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:43pm
silent praying is not harassment
Jim H. Victoria, BC , V9B2M5
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:43pm
Shirley H. Unity, SK , S0K 4L0
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:39pm
Carol A. Wetaskiwin , AB , T9A 2W1
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:38pm
Disgraceful law. Our forefathers fought and died to allow us freedom of speech. Ottawa is the nation’s capital and should have to respect their position within confederation to be at least cooperative with the federal government
Peter L. Richmond Hill , ON , L4E 1A7
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:36pm
Anonymous Calgary, 0 , T2E 4A9
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:35pm
Heidi M M. Powassan, ON , P0H 1Z0
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:33pm
Yves C. Ottawa, ON , K1C5Y4
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:32pm
Anonymous Edmonton, AB , T5T 1M8
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:31pm
Francesca W. CRYSLER, 0 , K0A 1R0
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:30pm
Anonymous Canmore, AB , T1W 1G2
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:28pm
Trina B. Barrhead, AB , T7N 0A1
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:28pm
Margaret R. Melfort, SK , S0E1A0
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:26pm
Otilia D. cote saint luc, QC , H4W2Z7
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:25pm
STOP OTTAWA BUBBLE ZONE BY-LAW
Gloria H. Edmonton, AB , T5W0P5
Jun 5, 2025 - 06:21pm