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 3762 signatories
Page 48 of 251
Anonymous Casselman , ON , K0A 1M0
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:17pm
We need to protect free speech in our country, especially Ottawa being the capital.
Floyd W. Edmonton , AB , T5T5B9
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:14pm
There can be no Democracy without free speech and free thought. Everyone citizen has an inherent right to this in a private and public setting when they are conducting themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner. Proper free speech and opinions should not be considered offensive by Gov't officials on any level.
Dan M. CHILANKO FORKS, BC , V0L 1H0
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:14pm
As fascism rears its ugly head in a once high trust, first world country...
Patrick R. Markham, ON , L6E 1B5
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:12pm
gilbert g. Moncton, NB , E1G5W4
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:08pm
David W. Lomond, AB , T0L1G0
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:08pm
Romanos K. Nepean, ON , K2E1C2
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:08pm
We have enough laws. we dont need more and especially to silence voices of reason and morality.
Joyce K. Burford, ON , N0E 1A0
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:07pm
Eleanor G. Waterloo, ON , N2L1W3
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:06pm
Robert D. North York, ON , M2N 1T1
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:06pm
Anonymous Tillsonburg, ON , N4G 0E5
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:06pm
Irene V. Dunnville, ON , N1A 2W1
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:06pm
Anonymous Chilliwack, BC , V2P 5X7
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:06pm
Jacinthe P. Edmonton , AB , T5X 2W8
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:05pm
mark p. Milton, ON , L9T 6V3
Jun 5, 2025 - 05:05pm